Mr. Glassfokd's History and Description of the Kelp Manufacture. 257 



decided upon. In ordinary years the Irish kelp is almost exclusively 

 made from drift-weed, but during the year 1845, when the demand for 

 kelp was so much increased, and its value rose, a considerable quantity 

 was made from cut-weed, and a large per centage of foreign matters added, 

 which reduced its value and materially hurt the trade. Indeed, several 

 of our Glasgow manufacturers, who bought Irish kelp upon the simple 

 assurance that it was pure drift-weed, and without properly inspecting 

 the article, or probably, from a want of knowledge in the discrimination 

 of the good and the bad, suffered very severe losses. Honesty in this, as 

 in other things, is the best policy, and let our Irish and Highland friends 

 look to this, the honest manufacturer will almost be the first and the last 

 patronized, and must inevitably, in the long run, make the best of it. 



In the Highlands of Scotland comparatively little kelp is ever made 

 from the drift -weed. Last year, however, I have been told, by a Glasgow 

 kelp worker, a considerable quantity of drift-weed kelp was manufactured 

 in the islands of Uist, where it is occasionally made, and with great care, 

 if we may judge from the large quantity of iodine (upwards of 12 lb. per 

 ton) which it yielded. The drift-weed which is thrown in on the beaches 

 during the winter months, is either taken for manuring their fields, or is 

 suffered to lie on the beach and either rot, or get washed away : they have, 

 as yet, little idea of the causes of the difference in the value of their kelp 

 and the Irish kelp. When they have acquired this knowledge, I have no 

 doubt they will pay some little attention to this point, exert themselves 

 to the utmost, and improve the brand and the price of their article. All 

 parties concerned in its production would be better satisfied, and a 

 higher remuneration would be the result. 



The kelper would, in this way, profitably occupy time, which is usually 

 spent and squandered in the most trifling manner, he would increase 

 his own and the comforts of his wife and family, and would at least be 

 helping to move the fulcrum, which would elevate him as a man and as 

 I reasonable and thinking being; a fulcrum which, in too many cases, is 

 Left entirely to the care and supervision of their lairds and landlords, and 

 is necessarily, but too partially done. It is an old saying — a true 

 one, and applies here, that " when you wish to be well served, serve your- 

 self." How better can a man serve himself than by applying himself 

 assiduously to some task. 



Suggestions for Practical Improvements. — As I consider this part of 

 the subject of great importance to our Highland friends, and as it is one 

 which I have considered carefully, and urged much on the spot, I may be 

 permit ted to add yet a few words of direction and advice, on what I con- 

 to be, the best manner of Conducting the operations for making the 

 drift-weed kelp, and of availing themselves of what is thrown in during 

 the winter months. My observations, although they have been made on 

 the Colonsav shores, will, I have no doubt, be applicable to any portion 

 of our Highland mast. 



As the periods when the drift-weed is thrown in upon our island shores 



