The Kelp Industry in the Highlands 



stems. On one occasion on lona I examined a large pile 

 of tangles which had been gathered at various times during 

 the winter, and quite a quarter of the total number had 

 either been eaten or rendered useless by the trampling of 

 the animals. At the time I was at the spot some half-dozen 

 beasts were engaged in chewing the stems, of which they are 

 extremely fond. It was interesting to note that they did 

 not confine their attentions to the fresh weed, but consumed 

 with equal relish stems several months old, which appeared 

 to the human eye to be far from palatable. It must be dis- 

 heartening to the workers to see the results of their pains- 

 taking labours rendered useless in this way. 



The fire is set alight with shavings, and perhaps a 

 sprinkling of paraffin, and once started the withered stems 

 burn easily, giving off an intense heat. The fire is care- 

 fully fed every few minutes, as the heap should not be 

 allowed to burst into flame, and with each armful of fresh 

 weed a thick, blue smoke with curious pungent smell is 

 given off. On a fine summer evening these fires dotted 

 over an island appear singularly picturesque, the blue smoke 

 curling upwards and being wafted gradually out to sea. 

 Fine weather is of the utmost importance during the burn- 

 ing operations, as a fall of rain would seriously impair the 

 value of the ash. 



This retains its heat a good twenty-four hours after 

 burning, and when thoroughly cool is placed into sacks. 

 These are collected and placed in a situation where no rain 

 can reach them, to await the arrival of the steamer which 

 will carry them to the works of the chemical company, 

 where the ash will have its more valuable products extracted 

 from it. About twenty tons of wet tangle stem, or "stamh," 

 as it is known in the Gaelic, are needed to produce a ton of 

 tangle ash. 



As regards the dividing of the shore among the popu- 

 lation for kelp gathering, in Tiree the Duke of Argyll 

 regulates this by allotting a piece of the shore in each 



179 



