R1IGG: SALINITY AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF Nereocystis 241 
considered in the light of the fact that two samples of fronds 
collected by the writer in the Brown’s Island bed near Friday 
Harbor, Washington, in 1911, and analyzed by Dr. J. W. Turren- 
tine of the United States Bureau of Soils differed in their potash 
content by 9.7 per cent.* 
COMPOSITION OF KELP SAMPLES (Nereocystis Luetkeana) FROM FRESHWATER Bay, 
PUGET SounpD. Collected by George B. Rigg. Analyses by E. G. Parker and J. R. 
Lindemuth, U. S. Bureau of Soils. Nitrogen determinations by J. C. Trescott, U. S. 
Bureau of Chemistry. 
is Potash, | Iodine,| Soluble Organic | Ash, 
No. Locality a of | per Nitrogen, | per salts, matter, per 
plan cent per cent. : ent. | percent. | percent. | cent 
1 | From west Fronds | 18.04| 2.26 | 0.23 44.17 51.13 | 4.80 
2 end of bay | Fronds | 17.61 22% 24 -70 51.11 | 4.72 
3 Stipes 31.62 1.21 o 63-75 33-15 -} 3-46 
4 | Fromeast | Fronds | 16.92/ 2.57 0.20 43-37 51.16 | 5-47 
5 end of bay Fronds | 17.05 2.71 0.24 | 41.53 51.67 30 
6 ronds | 17.32 2.53 | 0.28 | 45.40 50.12 | 4.48 
7 Fronds O.90°t <2.54 0.19 42.88 52.19 | 4.908 
8 Stipes 16.50 BS 4 0.30 59.24 37-40 | 3-36 
9 Stipes 16.72 1.46 0.20 57.06 39.02 3-92 
It is quite possible that in some states of tide and current the 
water may be less saline at the east end of the bed than at the west 
end, and that this may account for the slightly lower potash content 
in the samples from the east end. 
There seems to have been little previous work done on the 
influence of the varying salinity of water on the growth of the 
Laminariaceae. Setchellf says that “Exact figures are wanting”’ 
and that ‘Recourse may be had only to general experience and 
statements can be couched only in general terms.’’ He says that 
a few Laminariaceae ‘‘ascend tidal rivers to a slight extent.’ 
The writer has not found any instance of this in the Puget Sound 
region, but his investigation particularly of the smaller leaf-like 
species has not been by any means complete. : 
Setchell notes the fact that Fucaceae and Ulvaceae are found 
in tidal rivers. This is true in the Puget Sound region. It is 
interesting in this connection to note that a Pelvetia plant has even 
been found growing in a salt marsh in this region. The specimen 
* Sixty second Congress, Second Session. Senate Document No, 190, p. 220. 
tT Ibid., p. 135. 
