68 MARINE AND FISHERIES 



5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 



second bed runs north east from Hammond Bay (five or six miles north of 

 Nanaimo). It is about one and one-half miles long, and varies from 50 to 100 

 yards in width. The third bed covers a submerged ridge on the north side of 

 Departure Bay; it is about three-quarters of a mile long, and from 50 to 100 yards 

 wide. I had no opportunity of examining the beds further east and south, al- 

 though, according to the charts, kelp is common in that region. The beds I saw 

 were of medium thickness. I estimated (very roughly) that on the average there 

 were about foui plants to the square yard. 



In order to obtain an approximation as to the weight of material to be obtained 

 from such beds as those described, I weighed a number of plants of Nereocystis 

 selected at random, and obtained in Departure Bay, with the following results: 



The fronds of seventeen plants weighed on the average 16 oz. 



The floats of seventeen plants weighed on the average 9 oz. 



The stipes and holdfasts of nine plants weighed on the average 6 oz. 



Samples of fronds and floats were dried, and the amount of moisture deter- 

 mined approximately: 



5.3 g. fronds, fresh, yielded 0.57 g. dry material, approximately 11% 



6.5 g. floats, fresh yielded 0.36 g. dry material, approximately 5 . 5% 

 Hence a single bed of Nereocystis, two miles long by 150 yards wide, and containing 

 on the average four plants per square yard (such a bed as that in False Narrows) 

 would yield 132 tons of dry material (neglecting the stipes, only short lengths of 

 which would be removed by proper cutting), containing (assuming 30 per cent, 

 potassium chloride present), about 40 tons potassium chloride, worth at $40 per 

 ton (^) some SI, 600. The figures utilized are all distinctly minima. My ratio 

 for wet and dry material is distinctly less than that found by other, observers. 

 No account has been taken of the value of the iodine also obtainable. The actual 

 weights of the plants were determined at the beginning of September, when the 

 fronds had commenced to decay. 



Further, and especially important, is the opinion of Setchell (^) that the 

 degree of salinity affects the growths of these kelps. This is borne out by my 

 observations in the Nanaimo region. The average length of nine of the plants 

 examined was about 16 feet, while those reported on off the American coast run 

 to 40 feet or even 70 feet (*). The fronds were not so large as those described in 

 plants obtained further south. In the Nanaimo district, along a stretch of coast 

 twenty miles in length only three beds of any size were met with. I have shown 

 in the body of this paper that the salinity of the sea-water in this district is on the 

 average about 1.015, instead of 1.03 as in normal sea-water. Nevertheless, if 

 Nereocystis beds were scattered along the whole Pacific coast of the Dominion to 

 no greater extent, their total economic value would be very considerable. 



It seems extremely desirable that steps should be taken at an early date to 

 investigate the extent of the beds through as great a region as possible, and 

 especially in districts of greater salinity. 



* Pctassium "muriate," basis 80 per cent., is at present quoted in American lists at $39.07 

 per ton. See J. Industrial Chemistry, March 1914, Market Report. I have no information as to 

 Canadian prices. 



• U. S. Senate Document, No. 190, 1912, p. 135. 

 » ibid., p. 42. 



