AGAR AND RELATED PHYCOCOLLOWS 53 



henceforth been the mossing center. By 1880 the price had fallen to about 3 cents 

 a pound and about 450,000 pounds were gathered. In 1898 the output was 

 770,000 pounds, valued at $24,825; in 1902 740,000 pounds, valued at $33,300, 

 were marketed. By 1919 production had decreased to 212,200 pounds, valued at 

 $15,687, probably because of the increasing availability and cheapness of pre- 

 pared gelatin and other substances for desserts. 



Besides Scituate, other Massachusetts localities where moss is often harvested 

 in quantity include Rockport, Gloucester, Marblehead, Nahant, Cohasset, Plym- 

 outh, White Horse Beach, Cuttyhunk Island, and New Bedford. 



War-stimulated demand for domestic Irish moss led to the development of an 

 important mossing industry in Maine in 1944 and 1945. The bulk of Irish moss 

 production in Maine is obtained between York and Boothbay Harbor, principally 

 in Casco Bay. Large quantities of moss occur also from Rockland eastward to the 

 Narraguagas River, as shown by a survey conducted in 1947 by the Department 

 of Sea and Shore Fisheries, although the area has not been exploited. Table 10 

 shows the total pounds, dry weight, and the total value of the Irish moss har- 

 vested in Maine from 1945 through 1948. Moss harvesters are required to pur- 

 chase a state license in Maine (Maine, 1948). Portsmouth and Rye are the prin- 

 cipal sources in New Hampshire. 



Table 10. Quantities of Irish Moss, Dry Weight, and Value Harvested 

 IN Maine, 1945 through 1948.* 



Year Pounds Value Per lb. 



Small quantities of moss have been obtained at Block Island, R. I., and Montauk, 

 New York. In recent years considerable amounts have been imported from two 

 principal areas in the maritime provinces of Canada: between the strait of Canso 

 and Malagash and from Richibucto Point to Point Escuminac. The southern shore 

 of Prince Edward Island has also been a source of much high quality moss. 



Table 11. Approximate Quantities of Dry Irish Moss Exported from Canada in 

 Carload Lots from 1940 through 1946. Additional Quantities Were Exported 



in Smaller LoTs.f 



* Maine Department of Sea and Shore Fisheries. 



i Needier, A. W. H., "Irish Moss Industry of the Maritime Provinces," General Series 

 Circ. 10, Atlantic Biol. Sta., Fisheries Research Board of Canada (1947). 



