Funori-seaweed glue is obtained from Gloiopeltis coli- 

 formis, which is collected by fishermen, sorted and cleaned. 

 It is then soaked in fresh water, piled on bamboo poles and 

 dried. The production of "funori" is an old industry, having 

 originated in 1673. 



" Kombu is made from kelps, mainly from species of Lami- 

 naria. These kelps are gathered by poles and drags. Its value 

 as a food material is indicated by the following analysis : pro- 

 tein 5% to 6.5%, fat 1.5% to 1.7% . This industry is the most 

 common of the Japanese seaweed industries and gives employ- 

 ment to a great many people. Kombu is a standard food for 

 the Japane-se, entering into the daily bill of fare of the masses 

 of the people. 



Porphyra or "laver" is an alg?e which is utilized by the 

 Japanese as a food material. This alga is abundant on the 

 California coast. It is dried and placed over a fire to make it 

 crisp, when it is ready to be placed in soups or sauces to give 

 them an agreeable flavor. 



The seaweed industries are in an undeveloped state m 

 our country, the most important one being the production of 

 "Irish moss." 



Irish moss is gotten from Chondrus crispus, a red alga 

 quite abundant on the Atlantic coast. It is collected by hand 

 or by the use of rakes, washed in salt water and placed on the 

 sandy beach to dry. This is repeated three times, when the 

 color has nearly all bleached out. Care needs to be taken that 

 rain does not fall on this sea hay, as fresh water is destructive 

 to it. It is used for blanc mange, and medicinally as a demul- 

 cent for coughs when mixed with sugar and lemon. The New 

 England States are engaged in this industry to some extent 



Another industry "to'which some attention is given in the 

 United States is the production of iodine from the brown 

 algfe. In the chemical process of extracting the iodine there 

 are two valuable by-products formed, ^nitrate of soda and 

 sodium chloride. This industry is now decreasing in the 

 United States on account of competition with the Peruvian 

 iodine deposits. 



Recently the production of potassium from the kelps has 

 begun to interest the chemical world. Chemical analyses were 

 made of several kelps at San Diego. California, by Balch in 



1909. 



Young floats of Nereocystis gigantia m 2100 grms. con- 

 tained 1026 grms. Kcl., about 48.85%. Older floats showed 

 about 37.207? and 0.55% iodine. 



Nereocystis lentkiana showed about 15% higher potassium 

 salt content. 



Macrocystis Pyrifera — Giant Kelp — showed 76.25% potas- 

 sium salts and some iodine. K. CI. is extruded from this dry- 

 ing plant in almost a pure state. 



41 



