250 Mr. Glassford's History and D&cription <>/ the Kelp Manufacture. 



they should have clear and dry weather, but more so especially for the 

 drying and burning operations. When the weeds get wet from rains, or 

 even have to remain moist from the want of sun heat, fermentation ensues. 

 The weeds then become quite soft and pulpy, run together in masses, and 

 finally disappear. If even dry weather should interrupt this waste, the 

 decomposing wreck is with difficulty saved, and the kelp prepared from it 

 is inferior. 



The process of drying and burning this weed is identically the same as 

 that for the black and other sorts of wreck, and will be described after- 

 wards. 



The proceeds of the operations of a company are for the benefit of that 

 company, each member participating alike in the labour and in the pro- 

 ceeds of their toil. The master of the company alone is remunerated 

 extra by the receipt of 10s. 6d. at the end of the season. The company 

 receives 27s. per ton of 22J cwt. for all they produce. This is all they 

 receive in money. There is an allowance of 1 stone (= 17J lbs.) of oat- 

 meal allowed to each man per week, and 1 to 2 oz. of tobacco per week ; 

 but these items, together with a few others in connection with this subject, 

 we will again return to. 



The black wreck, or Fucus serratus, (from the saw-teeth-like leaves,) 

 is also a shore weed, and is cut with the hook. This plant does not swim 

 like the other, and requires therefore to be at once carried inland. 

 This is done with large boats capable of holding four or five tons of the 

 wet weeds, and each boat, according to its size, is manned with two or 

 three men. The boats must be strong for this purpose, and as tight as pos- 

 sible, and having good strong oars and a sufficient painter. It is always 

 kept ready for service, moored in deep water, and in a sheltered position. 

 When the tide is about half-ebb the boat is manned, and they proceed to 

 the rocks intended to be bared ; the boat is moored, and they begin to 

 cut the wreck from the rocks, throwing it into the boat when cut. The 

 boat is frequently supplied with a plank, on which the men walk when 

 loading and unloading, and the weeds, when lying at a distance from the 

 boat, are carried to it by means of a handbarrow. When the boat is full 

 it is rowed home to the shore, where the wreck is intended to be dried, 

 and landed at full tide with the handbarrow. The succeeding operations 

 with] this weed are identical with those for the yellow wreck. The 

 labour, however, of cutting and throwing the wreck into the boats, and 

 carrying it again to shore, involves a greater amount of time, or what 

 is the same thing, produces less kelp per man. This is adjusted, how- 

 ever, by the payment to the company of 35s. per ton of 22J cwt. for this 

 kelp ; and although the labour is more severe, it often happens that the 

 " boat companies," as they are termed, realize more remuneration for the 

 season than the "rope companies." The kelp produced from this plant 

 is richer in iodine and potash (generally speaking) than that from the 

 yellow wreck. This Fucus is much more a sea plant than the other, it 

 seldom or never being found high up on the shores. This kelp, although 



