COMMERCIAL YALUE OF KELP-BEDS 33 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 38a 



I think that this average of 20 pounds can be accepted as applicable to the whole 

 of the kelp seen since while some of the shore kelp "vvas undouhtedly much lighter in 

 weight the bulk was in beds similar to that at which these measurements were made, 

 and vast beds in the neighbourhood, such as those at Nawhitti bar, must average 

 much higher. (The plant 111 feet long measured by Mr. Lucas had a weight of the 

 order 100 pounds.) 



Two hundred and forty miles of coast line was examined. The weight of the kelp 

 available calculated on the above estimate from the additional data shown in chart 

 III 1 was 224,640 tons, an average of 936 tons per mile of coast line. This, it is to be 

 observed, is much higher than- that for district A, corresponding to a higher mean 

 density of the sea-water (average value observed, 1-0225; extremes, 1-021, 1-0265). 



The bulk of the kelp seen was Nereocystis luikeana. Near Port McNeill, with 

 increased salinity due to nearness to the open waters of Queen Charlotte sound, 

 occasional small patches of Macrocystis occur among the Nereocystis beds. They 

 become commoner farther west, and between Suquash and Hardy bay there are exten- 

 sive beds of Macrocystis. The beds are so thick that the weight per unit area is 

 almost certainly comparable with that for Nereocystis,' so that the error due to a cal- 

 culation on the basis of Nereocystis only cannot be a large one. 



Before proceeding to apply the data given above to the general problems the results 

 of the rougher examinations of the other districts will be dealt with; as no charts 

 were made for these, some actual figures and data are included for reference for 

 future workers. 



District D (South of District A, to Victoria). — This was examined on July 4. Off 

 the islands east and south of Sidney island are probably fairly large beds of kelp 

 which would repay charting. There are a few small patches near Zero rock and 

 Johnstone reef. The coast near Ten-mile point is surrounded by fringes of kelp, 

 while there are numerous small beds outside Oak bay and Foul bay. The whole could 

 be charted in two or three days, and the average is probably of the same order as that 

 for the southern section of District A. 



I saw only Nereocystis in this region. 



District E (Channels between the northeast of Vancouver Island and the Main- 

 land). — This was examined between July 18 and 21, inclusive. The route covered 

 was from Pender harbour through Calm channel and the Caldero channels to Forward 

 harbour, thenee to Port Neville, and south through Johnstone strait and the western 

 passage to Quathiaska cove. The greater part of this territory consists of fairly 

 narrow channels, with very strong tidal currents: There is very little kelp through- 

 out. There are occasional small patches and fringes, but the difficulty of collection 

 would be great (since much of the navigation is dangerous for siftall boats) and the 

 amount obtainable would not repay collection. Port Neville, opening off Johnstone 

 strait, is almost choked up with kelp, though when I saw it at half-tide most of this 

 bed was submerged, and invisible. The district northward from this point would~ 

 repay careful examination. 



Such kelp as exists in this district is invariably Nereocystis. The observed den- 

 sities ranged from 1-014 to 1021; in the mean, 1-019. 



District F (Barlcley Sound and the Alherni Canal). — Examined August 25 to 27. 

 This district was selected as typical of the west coast inlets of Vancouver island. The 

 Alberni canal is 25 miles long, very deep (up to and over 100 fathoms in many places), 

 large quantities of fresh water flow into it, and it is quite devoid of kelp. It resembles 

 Howe sound in general character. It opens out to Barkley sound, which is roughly 



1 Chart ITI should be referred to Admiralty Charts Nos. 5S1 and 582. 

 38a~3 



