74 



and sent to market. These are said to be sliglitly roasted when used 

 and to give a desirahle flavour to other foods. It is used in many 

 ways, such as minced and served in broths ; a favourite i-ecipe is the 

 well-known " Sushi " or sandwich composed of boiled rice mixed 

 with fish or pulse flavoured with vinegar and wrapped up in a sheet of 

 nori. An equally common recipe is to serve it with hot rice and 

 Shoyu (Soy) sauce ; it is said to be an excellent appetizer. It does 

 not, however, seem to keep well in the hot weather, but may be dried 

 and canned when it will keep indefinitely. 



158. A very important product is that called in commerce agar- 

 agar or vegetable isinglass, which is the product of a weed called 

 Tengusa (Gelidium) and is known as Kanten. Tlie weed is dissolved 

 in boiling water which is then strained and allowed to cool when it 

 solidifies on cooling. This is a whitish translucent substance sold in 

 thin uticks and bars, and is used for bacteriological cultures, for clari- 

 fying Hollands, etc., for stiffening cloths, and for food like true isin- 

 glass. Cooled with ice and sweetened, it is said to be the most delight- 

 ful of sweetmeats to Japanese palates. If dissolved by first soaking 

 and then boiling in sweetened water it forms a jelly to which, before 

 it is set, various essences and coloring matters, especially yellow, may 

 be added. A good deal is used in Japan but much is exported to rhe 

 value, it is said, of over Rs. 15 lakhs annually, to Europenn countries, 

 India, and the United States of America. 'J he largest output is under 

 the control of a number of persons in several provinces who have 

 united into a trade association with head-quarters at Osaka ; it is not 

 a manufacturing company but an association as described above in 

 which each individual manufactures on his own account, but the 

 product is lumped and sold by the association which is thus able to 

 place it to advantage and largely commands the trade ; the principal 

 manufacturer makes above 100 tons per annum. There are other 

 similar associations but of smaller size at Suwa where, in 1902, above 

 443,000 lb. were manufactured by various members. 



159. Another important weed is that known as Funori (Gloiopeltis) 

 used as stiffening paste or size for woven fabrics, inputting on wall 

 paper, and (otherwise ; mixed with lime and sand it forms an excellent 

 cement or stucco. The size or glue is easily made by cutting the weed 

 into moderate sized pieces, boiling it (or a short time, and then filtering 

 the mass ; the filtrate is the desired substance. The weed grows natu- 

 rally but is cidtivated in certain localities by placing blocks of stone iu 

 the sea at favourable spots to which the alga attaches itself ; the annual 

 amount has been estimated as 2,4-2o,000 lb. valued at Rs. 5,40,00U. 

 Here also, the leading manufacturers have combined into an association, 

 though it is spoken of as temporary. 



160. Iodine. — Iodine is obtained largely from various algaj includ- 

 ing the Laminaria ; until of late, it was imported from Germany, but 



