Seaweed and its Uses. 337 



visionally registered for making paper from seaweed, but 

 these were never proceeded with. 



Monsieur J. E. Brizot, of Toulon, states that to prepare 

 paper from seaweed, it is necessary to pound the root part 

 of the algae, to break off a kind of fibrous outer coating 

 which does not bleach effectually. It is then washed to 

 remove the sand and earth which are often found adhering, 

 and beaten well, after which it is placed in a reservoir of 

 water mixed with sulphuric acid. Seaweed is naturally 

 tough and stiff, owing to the number of cellules which 

 it contains ; to render it supple for paper-making, it must 

 therefore be steeped in an acid bath. In taking out the 

 stuff from the reservoir, it should be removed with a wooden 

 spade, pierced with holes, so that the acid water may be 

 preserved for use again. The paper pulp may be placed in 

 osier baskets to drain off the moisture. The filaments of 

 the leaves should not be employed for white paper, as they 

 do not bleach well. After cleansing and treating with the 

 acid as already described, it only remains to bleach the 

 material with chloride of lime till it is of the whiteness 

 required. 



Chevalier Claussen, when treating common seaweeds 

 with alkalies, found they were entirely dissolved and a 

 soapy compound formed, which could be employed in the 

 manufacture of soap. 



A patent was taken out some years ago by Mr. T. Ghislin 

 for utilizing dissolved and pressed seaweed, under the name 

 of laminite, in making imitation horn, moulded for the 

 handles of cutlery, for sticks, picture-frames, book-covers, 

 etc. It was not followed up to any extent. 



The New Zealanders employ the large pods of a species 

 of seaweed to store the whale oil which thev use in 



* 



the lamps of their sleeping houses. These, when filled, 



