372 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



Among- my collections for the National Museum in 1885, I received a number of 

 specimens of this kelp which had been used for dogfish oil. I split one open and found 

 that the oil had hardened the inside of the kelp tube to the consistency of leather. 

 Tins specimen I washed with soap and water, then wiped it to remove the moisture, 

 and then rubbed and manipulated it after the manner used by natives in dressing 

 deer skins, and when perfectly dry by this process of continual rubbing, it was soft 

 and flexible, presenting an appearance of wash. leather, but if allowed to dry without 

 manipulation it would be hard and brittle. A party of coast Indians were camped on 

 the beach at Port Townsend, and, at my request, they showed me their method of pre 

 paring kelp for holding oil. The great stems of the Nereocy.sti.s are covered with a 

 thin coating of silex, which is carefully peeled off as one might peel the skin from an 

 apple; only the hollow or upper part of the stem is used. When the skin is removed 

 the tube is placed above the tire and smoked in the lodge, and, as it dries, the salt it 

 contains exudes on the surface ; this is carefully removed by rubbing, which also serves 

 to soften the kelp and render it pliable. It is then again placed over the tire, and the 

 process continued until the salt is removed; then the tube is blown up like a bladder 

 and allowed to dry until it will retain its shape, and it is then tilled with dogfish oil 

 and is ready for market. 



The rude and simple experiments I made with this giant kelp convinced me that 

 it is capable of being converted into articles of commercial value, but as I had not the 

 means of conducting experiments or of procuring the machinery requisite to the man- 

 ufacture of the kelp products on a scale of commercial importance, I have allowed the 

 matter to rest until some one of enterprise and capital may be found, ready to con. 

 tinue these investigations 



In order to show those who may feel interested in the development of this new 

 industry, I will quote from a valuable and exhaustive paper " on the economic appli- 

 cations of sea weed," by Edward C. C. Stanford, F. c. s., read before the Society of 

 Arts, London, England, May 22, 1884. 



Sea weed as food. — In Great Britain little advance has been made in the use of 

 algae as food. The alga? contain important nitrogenous constituents and form nutri- 

 tious articles of diet, but they have not been popular. We all like the smell of the 

 sea air, but we do not cultivate a taste for our marine vegetables. The alg«e, so far 

 as known, contain no poisonous species. Among the edible varieties, Ulva latissima, 

 or green laver, and Porphyra lacinata, or pink laver, are occasionally used in soups. 

 Rkodomenia palmata, or dulse, is still sold in the streets ol Edinburgh and Glasgow. 

 Aliara eseulenta, or murlins, is also eaten in Ireland. Some others are occasionally 

 used, but as a general food the algae are almost unknown. 



The best-known British species of the edible algae is the Ghrondus cri&pus, or Irish 

 moss; this grows far down on the rocks and is only uncovered at low spring tides. It 

 is obtained mostly from the west coast of Ireland, and after being bleached by exposure 

 to sun and rain is largely exported to England, Germany, and the United States. Ifc 

 is a gelatinous species containing a principle known as carragheenin. 



The only other gelatinous British species is the Gelideum corneum. .This is not 

 very common, but furnishes the import known as Japanese isinglass, of which it con- 

 tains 50 percent. This substance, known also as gelose, was first imported into France 

 from China in 1856; it has great gelatinizing powers, much higher than any other 

 material; gelose lias eight times the gelatinizing power of isinglass and gelatine, but 



