CONSERVATION OF MARINE ALGAE 

 By Andrew C. Life 



The attention of the scientific world is now being directed 

 toward the ocean and its myriads of organisms as never be- 

 fore. The possibilities of the great ocean depths are without 

 doubt not yet fully realized, and probably have not been 

 imagined by the most optimistic sea explorers. 



Recently stimulated study and research has been made of 

 various phases of the great oceans and the organic world sus- 

 tained by them. 



The Challenger Expedition made under the auspices of 

 the British Government has been a very great inspiration to 

 the study of the physical and biological conditions of the 

 great ocean depths. 



The Challenger had on board a corps of scientific ob- 

 servers, who, during a period of three and a half years, studied 

 the depth, salinity, temperature, currents and animal and 

 vegetable inhabitants. Nearly all civilized nations have since 

 sent out expeditions for deep-sea research. More recently an 

 International Commission has been engaged in the exploration 

 of the North and Norwegian Seas. 



Marine laboratories have been established in many parts 

 of the world. The Pacific coast has joined the ranks with 

 three promising stations. 



Along with the progress of the work has been the im- 

 provement of the methods and the instruments. Special ap- 

 paratus is necessary on account of the great pressures to which 

 the instruments are subject in deep-sea investigation. 



This paper is particularly concerned with the Algae of the 

 sea, of which there are three classes, as follows: (1) Chloro- 

 phycias, 'green algae; (2) Phaeophycise, brown algae; (3) Rhodo- 

 phycias, red alg?e. Of these the red and the brown are iiiore 

 abundant on our coast. In general the Chlorophycise are found 

 between low and high water mark, the Phaeophyci^ ])oth 

 above and below low water mark, and the Rhodophyciae, at or 

 below low water mark, as a rule deeper than either of the pre- 

 ceding. The Phaeophyciae, including the kelps, are probably 

 more utilized than the other classes of marine algae. Japan 

 leads the world in the utilization of the so-called "sea weeds." 

 Among the products are kanten, kombu, funori, and iodine. 

 Kanten or vegetable isinglass is made from one of the red 

 algae, Gelidium corneum. This alga grows on rocks and is 

 gotten by divers. Kanten is used as a food material as a jelly, 

 by dissolving it in boiling water. It is also used for the sizing 

 of textiles and stiffening the warp of silks. One form of it is 

 known as agar agar and is used as a culture medium for the 

 growth of bacteria. Its analysis shows, water ll^/t , protein 

 6.85%, and carl^ohydrates 61%. 



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