134 SEAWEEDS. 



olive weeds bearing the spores in patches upon the 

 fronds. 



A frond with a mid-rib which we drew from the 

 water proved to be the Edible Alaria (A. esculenta, Plate 

 I., Jig. 5), it grew upon a stem, the main frond being a 

 continuation of the short stem, while smaller fronds grew 

 like wings from either side of the stem, it was formerly 

 much used as an article of food. Gigantic tongue shaped 

 fronds six feet in length, with curled edges and the middle 

 puckered, were floating in every direction. These were 

 Sweet Tangles (Laminaria Saccharina, Plate II, Jig. l). 

 sometimes called Sugar Sea-belt. This and many other 

 species contains Maunite, a sweet nutritious substance 

 resembling sugar, it is constantly eaten in Iceland, and in 

 Japan it is reckoned a great delicacy. 



The finger Laminaria (L. digitata, Plate I, fig- 6) was 

 also there, its fronds are divided into segments like 

 gigantic fingers, the substance is so tough that we tried 

 in vain to tear it, and after pulling with our united 

 strength at one enormous frond for some time it 

 suddenly came from its moorings, but brought with it a 

 large stone which the fibres of its root had firmly clasped. 

 The stem was ornamented with delicate white zoophytes, 

 and glazed patches of red brown, which proved to be a 

 minute sea-weed. The white net-work spreading over 

 both stem and frond was but the forsaken home of a 

 zoophyte, but living zoophytes of iridescent hues, are 

 often found on such weeds, as described by Crabbe. 



" While thus with pleasing wonder you inspect 

 Treasures the vulgar in their scorn reject, 



