450 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1941 



ments of kelp were made to Rockland, and in 1939 there were 5 ship- 

 ments. No further details have been received from the factory since 

 that time. 



The Fisheries Research Board of Canada in the summer of 1941 

 reports that considerable quantities of kelp are harvested along the 

 south shore between Yarmouth and Cape Sable Island and trans- 

 ported to Maine. 



ALGIN OB SODIUM ALGINATE 



The imports of algin into the United States are relatively unim- 

 portant, ranging in the New York district from 5,000 pounds to about 

 13,000 pounds during the years 1932 to 1935, inclusive. The United 

 Kingdom was the principal supplier in 1933 and 1934, the Irish 

 Free State in 1932, and Norway in 1935. Some sodium alginate 

 materials enter as crude or semimanufactured seaweeds, algin, or 

 extract of seaweed. 



In the United States, sodium alginate has been produced by only 

 one large company in recent years. The imports are relatively un- 

 important in comparison with domestic production. There are no 

 available statistics of the exports but it is believed that they are 

 small, if any. 



The one company producing sodium alginate in the United States, 

 located at San Diego, Calif., started operations several years ago by 

 taking over a plant established in 1926 which had failed. After 

 intensive research and developmental work, they have brought their 

 product to a point of commercial production. 



ntlSH MOSS 



The center of the Irish moss or Chondrus crispus industry is at 

 Scituate, Mass., where an annual supply of approximately 200,000 

 pounds is produced. 



Summarizing briefly, the gelatin from Ghondims crispus, is used 

 in tanning, in fining beverages, as a filler and stabilizer in various 

 foods, as a basis of certain drugs, and in the cosmetics industry. 



CONCLUSION 



A third verse should be added today to Longfellow's famous poem 

 "Seaweed" : 



When descends on the Atlantic 



The gigantic 

 Storm wind of the equinox 

 Landward in his wrath he scourges 



the toiling surges, 

 Laden with sea- weed from the rocks. 



