USEFUL ALGAE — CHASE 425 



Laminaria spp. 



Percent 



Water 22. 82-24. 44 



Protein ^ , 5. 49- 5. 82 



Fat 1. 52- 0. 74 



Soluble nonnitrogenous material 47. 83-45. 57 



Fiber 4. 55- & 44 



Ash 18. 69-17. 00 



Of other substances found in seaweeds, bromine occurs most abund- 

 antly in Fucus serratus (pi. 9, fig. 4). Laminaria digitata (pi. 6, 

 fig. 1), L. saccharina (pi. 3, fig. 1), and Fucus vesiculosus (pi. 6, 

 fig. 2) are richest in iodine, Sacchoriza iulbosa containing a little less. 

 It is not yet known whether iodine is contained in the form of alka- 

 line salts or in organic combinations. 



The vitamin content of several algae used as food was tested recently 

 by Norris, Simeon, and Williams. They found that Alaria vdlida, 

 Laminaria sp., Porphyra nereocystis^ Porphyra perforata, Rhody- 

 menia pertusa, and Ulva lactuca were good sources of vitamin B, and 

 compared favorably with many fruits and vegetables. 



Porphyra was the richest source of both vitamin B and vitamin C 

 among the algae tested. A number of algae from the different orders 

 were found to be as rich a source of vitamin C as lemons. The algae 

 growing on the littoral zone or on the surface tend to be higher in 

 vitamin C than algae that are dredged from a depth of 5 to 10 

 fathoms. 



The sugar, mannite, has been prepared from certain species of 

 Laminaria. Laminaria saccharina (pi. 3, fig. 1) contains 12 to 15 

 percent of this sugar. In Kamchatka the natives prepare an alco- 

 holic drink from dulse or Rhodym^enia palmata. 



ALGAE AS FOOD FOR DOMESTIC ANIMATES 



On the northern shores of Europe, seaweeds have long furnished 

 provender for cattle. So general was the use of seaweeds by the 

 domestic animals that there was only one variety for which the cattle 

 had a great distaste and would not touch as food, a certain variety 

 of Laminxiria which the Norwegians and Lapps called Neptune's 

 belt because of its form similar to a long, broad ribbon, or the horse's 

 kelp or sea devil. The ancient peoples in the Scandinavian countries 

 thought that it must be bewitched since the cows would not touch 

 it and they believed that it was employed by the sorcerers to excite 

 the sea horses. Rhodymenia palmata (pi. 5, fig. 3) constitutes a 

 favorite food of the Scandinavian goats, cows, and sheep. On certain 

 small islands of Scotland, the cows and sheep go down to the shores 

 at low tide to hunt for this alga, also for Alaria esculenta (pi. 6, 



