62 THE WEALTH OF THE SEA 



Most of the weed that is cut is reaped with sickles 

 and scythes when it is exposed at low tide. Since the 

 algae grow on irregular rocks, no one has been suc- 

 cessful in devising a machine for harvesting it. The 

 larger species of seaweed growing in somewhat 

 deeper water are harvested by men in boats who cut 

 the tangle with sickles attached to long poles and 

 then pull it into their boats. After storms much 

 driftweed or deep-sea tangle is washed upon the 

 beach, and is collected, dried, and burned by the 

 kelp-burners. 



Seaweeds are dried in the same manner as hay. 

 The same care is taken to prevent their being wet 

 by rain or heavy dew, since this leaches out much 

 potash and iodine. Because of the difficulty in drying 

 the weeds in bad weather, no seaweed is collected or 

 burned in winter. 



In Japan the harvesting and burning of the sea- 

 weeds is done chiefly by commercial firms who obtain 

 the exclusive privilege of harvesting the seaweed 

 growing along a section of the coast. This is accom- 

 plished in much the same manner as in Europe, the 

 algae being cut from the holdfast by fishermen in 

 small boats, using sickles or hook-like knives at- 

 tached to the end of long poles. Some seaweed is also 

 obtained by dragging weighted hooks behind small 

 boats. 



The concession for the cutting of the algae does 

 not include the right to gather that which is washed 

 up on the beaches. On this account, the collection 

 of the driftweed is done by individuals living in close 

 proximity to the beaches. After storms, when a large 



