COMMERCIAL VALUE OF KELP-BEDS 37 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 38a 



It would seem almost certain that the kelp in this district could be obtained and 

 harvested at a profit. It would at present more than supply Canada's needs for 

 potassium salts and iodine. 



The annual value of the beds off the Queen Charlotte islands is also more than a 

 million dollars at pre-war rates. The difficulties of harvesting will be greater. 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



I submit the following recommendations: — 



(1) The charting of the kelp beds from the north of Vancouver island to the 

 Dundas islands should be completed. This can be carried out properly only between 

 July and September of any year, when the kelp is thickest and the weather condi- 

 tions are most favourable. The waters are dangerous for navigation in many parts 

 of this territory. A seaworthy steamer carrying a small power launch, and the 

 services of an efficient navigator with some knowledge of these waters are essential. 

 The work would occupy at least two seasons. Much of the coast has not been charted, 

 and it would be necessary to prepare a rough chart, which could be done in the two 

 months previous to the actual kelp survey. 



(2) The kelp leds of the Queen Charlotte islands should be surveyed. This must 

 be carried out at the same period of the year. The difficulties of navigation are 

 greater, from the dangerous nature of the waters. 



(3) Further information should be obtained concerning the best i eriod for cut- 

 ting the kelp. It must not be cut too early or the discharge of the spores may be 

 affected and next year's crop lessened. It will be necessary to make careful observa- 

 tions of definite areas over a series of years to find out whether the time of cutting 

 affects the succeeding growth harmfully. If cutting is delayed too long, the fronds 

 will have commenced to decay, and the total yield may be considerably diminished. - 

 This will not matter initially, when only part of the kelp beds is being utilized, and 

 especially for works conducted on an experimental basis, so that until definite informa> 

 tion is available, permission to cut kelp should probably be granted only between 

 August and December, inclusive. 



(4) There is not enough kelp to allow private companies to utilize the same beds. 

 The areas will require division, and for effective working a particular area will have 

 to be allocated to a single corporation. Policing will be essential, to prevent too early 

 cutting. Perhaps this could be undertaken by the fishery officials. 



(5) It has been stated by various investigators that the removal of kelp may 

 interfere with the food supply of certain fishes, and may increase the dangers of 

 navigation by removing natural breakwaters; further, that the presence of kelp in 

 waters not well charted is of considerable assistance in the navigation of boats of 

 I'ght draught. The latter points may be important, and further consideration ■;f 

 them is required. Any difficulties can probably be overcome by more accurate chart- 

 ing of the coasts and increased buoying of the reefs. 



(6) It will be necessary to secure information as to the best methods of harvest- 

 ing the kelp, and obtaining from it the potassium chloride and iodine. American 

 experiences are available,^ and the conditions of labour and transport in British 

 Columbia are probably not markedly different. 



^ The technology of the seaweed industry is summarized in the Congress Report, No. 190. 

 already frequently referred to, on pages 232 to 262. Some idea of the kind of manufacturing 

 plant required and the cost of operation may be gathered from the following quotations : — 



(a) W. C. Phalen, "Potash Salts, Summary for 1913," from "Mineral Resources of the 

 United States, Calendar Tear 1913 — Part II", "Washington, 1914: (pp. 94-6): — 



" Commercial Utilization of Kelp. — Since interest has been aroused in kelp as a source of 

 potash salts, several companies have been formed having in view its commercial exploitation, 

 either in the dried form as a fertilizer or for the potash salts and the other valuable ingredients, 

 such as iodine, which it contains. The names of eleven companies formed ostensibly to engage 

 in the kelp industry have been brought to the attention" of the survey during the last year. In 



