70 THE WEALTH OF THE SEA 



unfermented. The properties and uses of this sub- 

 stance are described below. The mixture of the cal- 

 cium salts of acetic, propionic, and butyric acids was 

 manufactured into esters, which were used in the 

 preparation of lacquers. 



Immediately upon the cessation of hostilities this 

 plant suspended operations and has since been dis- 

 mantled. Such a process seems to be economically 

 practicable only when the prices of organic solvents 

 and potassium salts are abnormally high. 



Algin 



Algin or alginic acid is an organic substance, pos- 

 sessing unique properties, found in large quantities 

 in many seaweeds. It was discovered by Stanford in 

 1883, who noticed that when certain laminar ia were 

 soaked in fresh water a viscous liquid formed in the 

 sacks of the fronds of the algae. When this liquid 

 was evaporated to dryness a substance "resembling 

 albumen" remained. This substance, which was 

 named algin, is insoluble in water and acids, but dis- 

 solves readily in solutions of the alkalis or alkali 

 carbonates. 



Stanford recognized the commercial possibilities 

 of algin and its compounds and carried on extensive 

 researches to determine their properties and uses. 

 Later he began to manufacture it, but his factory 

 was not successful financially. More recently algin 

 has been manufactured in Ireland and in America. 



During the World War, much algin and sodium 

 alginate was prepared as a by-product of the manu- 

 facture of calcium acetate by the fermentation of 



