The Kelp Industry in the Highlands 



which can be profitably combined with small holdings, of 

 which many have been established of late on the islands. 

 The season of the tangle gathering is when work on the 

 croft is light, and the burning of the weed can be held over 

 until after the spring crops have been put in. With regard 

 to the collecting of the fronds, these, perhaps unfortunately, 

 are washed ashore usually at the season when the small- 

 holder is busy with the land, but at that time of the year the 

 days are long, and there should be little difficulty in gather- 

 ing a considerable quantity of this part of the weed also. 

 The price obtained from the ash of the " barr dearg " has 

 not risen proportionately to that of the tangle stems during 

 the last few years, so that the latter form the main industry. 

 Although it is to be feared that the islands will never 

 again see the record prices of a century ago, the present 

 time is undoubtedly one during which the resources and 

 capabilities of the industry should be strengthened in every 

 possible way, so that kelp making in the Highlands and 

 Islands may be put on a prosperous footing, and the supply 

 be so good that it may be able to hold its own against 

 foreign competition. 



