254 Mr. Glassforo's History and Description of the Kelp Mamuf&cturk. 



from rain or moisture, I will say a few words here on this topic, believing 

 that the present oareless and injurious manner of keeping the kelp before 

 it is shipped, is entirely the result of their ignorance of its consequences. 

 The value of kelp at present, and for many years back, has almost entirely 

 depended upon its iodine, and the potash salts; the proportion of these 

 constituents determining its commercial value. From the potash salts, — 

 and more especially the muriate of potash (which is the most valuable 

 salt of potash) — and the iodide of sodium, being the most soluble of 

 all the constituents of kelp; it follows, that if we expose kelp to 

 moisture, in any way, that these salts will dissolve out, and will ultimately 

 leave the kelp an almost valueless mass. Kelp, which occasionally con- 

 tains caustic soda, and salts of magnesia, attracts moisture in any position, 

 and gets deteriorated from the loss of its valuable salts. In this way a 

 cargo of excellent kelp, which had lain in a damp store near the Broomielaw, 

 for upwards of a year, when lately brought out and exposed for sale, only 

 brought a few shillings per ton, to the great loss of the parties to whom 

 it belonged. To prevent this source of loss to the kelper, it is necessary 

 that it should be immediately removed, whilst still warm, to a dry shed, 

 safe from rain and damp, and there preserved until ready for shipping 

 The intelligent kelper, when he understands the nature of the source of 

 loss, will easily find out the means best adapted to prevent such, and 

 unhesitatingly adopt them. 



Wages of the Kelpers. — I have already mentioned that the kelpers 

 receive at the rate of 27s. per ton for the "rope," or yellow wreck kelp, 

 and 35s. per ton for the " boat" or black wreck kelp, this is for the ton of 

 22-iV cwt. In addition to this, every man employed, especially if he is 

 a crofter — or is possessed of a house and portion of ground, for which he has 

 a rent to pay — is allowed £2 for the season, which sum is deducted from 

 his rent, or if he refuses to work at the kelp, he is forced to pay this sum to 

 the landlord. By this ingenious method, the remuneration is apparently 

 increased to a considerable sum, and the kelper is forced to pay this as a, fine, 

 if unwilling to contribute his labour. It is only the 27s. or 35s. per ton 

 which he actually receives, and on which he depends for the payment of his 

 food, the support of his family, and for the liquidation of his rent, &c. Each 

 kelper, during a good and dry season, will produce on an average 2 tons 

 to 2J tons of kelp, or at the rate of J a ton per spring tide. This shows 

 2J tons at 27s. = £3 7s. 6d., or about 8s. 6d. per week for each man of 

 a rope company: and 2 tons at 35s. = £3 10s., or about 9s. per week 

 per man for the boat companies. The landlord or proprietor, supplies each 

 kelper with meal, tobacco, and one or two other trifling things, which 

 amount to about 3s. to 3s. Gd. per week, this is deducted from the 

 above sums ; the remainder is for the support of the family at home. 

 Not so very poor nor unprofitable, when we take all the accompanying 

 considerations into thought, and reflect, that the time occupied by the 

 kelpers in kelp making, during the two or three hot summer months, 

 would, if not engaged in this, be spent in the most trifling manner. 



