258 Mr. Glassford's History and Description of the Kelp Manufacture, 



occurs most usually during the winter and spring months, it so happens, 

 thai during these months little or no employment is followed by the male 

 population. The fanning operations, which can only be carried on within 

 doors, <an easily be managed by the servants, or persons more immediately 

 connected with the farms, so that a considerable population are almost 

 entirely idle for months. It is the latter class of persons who could be 

 profitably employed in collecting the drift-weed, and preparing the kelp, 

 but to this class of men inducement must be held out by the proprietor ; 

 they will require to be shown that it is decidedly their interest to engage 

 in the operations, and every facility must bo held out for their successful 

 prosecution of the work. That it is their interest, must be obvious to all 

 who believe that labour rightly directed, is more profitable than idleness, 

 but that this is not apparent to them, is obvious from their condition ; 

 the result of incessant and unmitigated bondage, of a regular system of 

 grasping and grinding servitude. To convince them satisfactorily that it 

 is for their interest, we must proceed upon direct and simple methods. 

 I would suggest, that the whole proceeds or profits, remaining after 

 payment of unavoidable expenses, (which indeed are trifling,) be paid 

 over to the kelper, in money, without censorship and without control. 

 With these proceeds he will be enabled to pay the debts he has contracted 

 during the winter months, with, perhaps, something towards payment of 

 his rent and a few other necessaries, and thus to improve the condition 

 of himself and family. By this means he would become a more respon- 

 sible individual, ascertain his own weight and individuality, and would, 

 with a little assistance, be permanently raised in his own estimation, 

 and in that of those around him. He would, I believe, no longer willingly 

 and unresistingly become a burden upon the landlord, nor hang about 

 listless and idle, in the vain endeavour of passing the day in ease and 

 comfort. When he finds his labour productive to himself, and not merely 

 to his landlord, he would shake off his apathy and become a man, action 

 would be substituted for inaction, and new and better fields for industry 

 and enterprise would be opened up. The prospect of adequate reward 

 would induce him, not only to enter, but to proceed, and succeed. The 

 obverse policy has been long tried, and the results have been and are, 

 aught but satisfactory ; why not try the ameliorating process, and substi- 

 tute the mere aggrandizement and affluence of the few, by the bettering 

 of the many? it will be found, I believe, that all would be improved. 



I have already remarked, that it is only at certain beaches along the 

 rugged shores, that the wreck is drifted up. At these points, and as 

 convenient to the shore as possible, I would suggest the erection, by the 

 landlord, of wooden sheds, of say 50 to 100 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 

 with side walls, 10 feet or more high, with good and tight roofs, to prevent 

 access of rain, and these to overlie somewhat the side walls. The side 

 walls might be of wood, but better if of tarpauling, so as to be readily 

 removable, and allow access upon all sides. The floor of this shed or 

 house, to be kept dry and free from wet, by means of a drain or gutter, 



