716 -REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AMD FISHERIES. 



LIST OF THE PEINCIPAL USEFUL SEA-WEEDS OCCUBBING 

 ON THE UNITED STATES COAST. 



USED AS FOOD. 



1. Chondrus crispus, Lyngb., commonly called Irish moss. Is abun- 



dant on tbe New England coast, particularly to tbe north of Cape 

 Cod, growing just below low-water mark. It is gathered in large 

 quantities at Hingham, Mass., and sold for making blanc mange, 

 puddings, and sea-moss farine. It is also used by brewers for clar- 

 ifying, and by calico-printers. 



2. Schizymenia EDULis, Ag. Found on the west coast; is eaten in 



Europe. 



3. Bhodymenia palmata, Grew Common dulse. Sold rough-dried in 



the seaport towns of the Northern States; principally eaten by 

 sailors and children. That found in our markets is generally 

 imported from the British provinces, although the plant is very 

 common in New England. 



4. Porphyra vulgaris, Ag. Laver. Eaten stewed in some parts of 



Europe. Imported from China by the Chinese living in this coun- 

 try, even by those as far east as Massachusetts, although rhe plant 

 is common on the Massachusetts shore. 

 o. Alaria esculenta, Grev. .Common on the New England coast north 

 of Cape Cod. Is eaten in Scotland, but not in the United States. 

 No doubt, Eucheuma isiforme of Key West, Gigartina mammil- 

 losa, often gathered by mistake for the true Irish moss, the Californian 

 species of Chondrus, and some of the species of Gracilaria are quite 

 as good for culinary purposes as the Irish moss. 



Ulya latissima, L., sea-lettuce, is used by owners of aquaria for feed- 

 ing some of the marine animals, particularly Mollusca. 



USED AS FERTILIZERS. 



The larger dark-colored sea-weeds are roughly distinguished by the 

 inhabitants of the shore as rocJe-iceeds, or those furnished with small 

 bladders or snappers, and Icelp. The rock-weed, of New England is 

 composed almost entirely of three species of Fucus, F. vesiculosus, 

 F. nodosus, and F. furcatus. The Jcelp of New England is composed 

 of the Deri's aprons, species of Laminaria, the sea-colander, Agarum 

 Turneri, and Alaria esculenta. The rock-weeds and kelp are all 

 useful for manure, and are either scattered over the land and allowed 

 to rot, or else manufactured together with other substances into mar- 

 ketable fertilizers. 



The red sea-weed, Polysiphonia Haryeyi, is said, at times, to be 

 washed ashore in Peconic Bay in such quantities that it is used as ma- 

 nure. 



