836 The Sea-weeds of Yar-Connaiujlit, [July, 



iodine is present, chiefly as hydriodic acid, is then introduced 

 into a large retort, usually made of lead, the beak of which enters 

 the first of a series of three receivers communicating with each 

 other, and finally pulverized peroxide of manganese is added to it 

 through the tubulure. Upon the application of heat, water and 

 sulphate of manganese are formed, and the iodine distils over. The 

 temperature must not rise to 212^; for if it does, chlorine will also 

 be developed, and cause a loss of iodine by converting some of 

 it into chloride. The leaden retort used in this process, and which 

 is of a cylindrical form, is heated through the intervention of sand, 

 and is furnished with two tubulm-es, through one of which the 

 materials are introduced. The other is placed at about the middle 

 point of the neck of the retort, and serves the purpose of allowing 

 access to the interior of the beak in the event of its becoming plugged 

 with deposited iodine." 



The average quantity of red weed kelp sent yearly from the 

 shores of Yar-Connaught is 2500 tons, and the average price per 

 ton is 4/., giving a total of about 10,000?. per annum brought into 

 the country.* 



If during the spring and summer it is at all favourable weather, 

 and the prices of red weed kelp range from 3Z. 10s. to 4Z. 10s. a-ton, 

 men are enabled to earn from 2s. to 3s. a-day. The work, however, 

 is very laborious, for, besides the weed driven in on the shores, the 

 kelp manufacturers must supplement the supply naturally brought 

 in by the waves during the summer months, by cutting weed at low- 

 water during spring tides. To do this they go to favourable locahties 

 while the tide is high, and the moment the water is low enough, 

 begin operations by one man, with a hook fastened on the end of a 

 long pole, cutting the weed ofi" the rocks at the sea-bottom ; whilst 

 another with a pole, having a cross attached, gathers together the 

 weed that floats to the surface, and a woman or boy drags it into the 

 boat. When the tide rises, the boat is rowed to land and the load 

 thrown on the shore for the women and children to carry up and 

 spread out to dry ; and as this has to be done twice in the twenty- 

 four hours, while the spring tides last, the work is very arduous. 

 On many of the outlying islands off the coast of Yar-Connaught 

 there are huts which, during the summer months, are inhabited by 

 herds of women, solely for the purpose of carrying up, spreading, 

 and saving the weed thus procured. On such places the kelp is 

 seldom manufactured, but as soon as the weed is saved it is boated 

 to the mainland, or one of the larger islands, and there burned. 



* During the year 1867, which was an unprecedented year, some of the kelp 

 fires not being extinguished till Christmas, tiiero were about 3000 tons bought on 

 tiie coast of Yar-Connaught. These, at an average of 4/. a-ton, give a gross sum 

 of 12,000i. 



