104 SEA-WEEDS. 



A stone beacon was about to be erected on a low 

 rock, near the entrance of the Frith of Forth, 

 called the Carr Rock. This is about twenty feet 

 broad, and sixty feet long, and before the com- 

 mencement of any operations, was blackened by 

 dark masses of sea-weed, particularly of the 

 Digitate oar-weed, and Esculent alaria, which 

 were only left uncovered at the lowest ebb of 

 spring-tides. In the autumn of 1813, a great 

 part of the foundation for the proposed beacon had 

 been levelled, when it was found necessary for a 

 time to relinquish the project. The sea-weeds 

 had then been cut away, and their roots trampled 

 down by the workmen. In May, 1814, the work 

 was resumed, and great was the surprise of the 

 engineer, at finding that the surface of the rock 

 was again dark with its marine vegetation, and 

 that the long olive leaves were waving to and fro 

 in the waters. Little more than six months had 

 expired since he saw the rock naked and barren ; 

 now freshly grown leaves of the alaria, six feet 

 long, and the specimens of oar-weed about two 

 feet in length, seemed waving their flags of 

 triumph over their old dwelling-place. It was 

 evident that they had grown from seed, for they 

 were flourishing over the soil whose surface had 

 been so completely cleared in the autumn by the 

 pick and chisel. 



The different species of Fucus have a variety of 

 uses besides those already mentioned. The poor 

 Icelander, who can command no wealth, but who 

 can still with patriotic gratitude look on his 

 country and say, " Iceland is the best land on 

 which the sun shines," makes use of many sea- 

 weeds, and the commonest kinds on his shore 



