354 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



it raw; it is mucilaginous and then a little acrid afterwards. The 

 Icelanders wash it thoroughly in fresh water, dry it in open air, 

 then it becomes covered with a white powdery substance, which 

 is sweet, like sugar, and palatable. They pack it in close casks 

 and keep it for eating, with fish and butter, or by the rich people 

 boiled in milk with some rye-flour. In Kamschatska, they make 

 a fermented liquor from it. It is eaten in considerable quantities 

 on the coasts of the North of Europe, and in the Grecian Archi- 

 pelago. Cattle are very fond of it, and deer eat it with so much 

 avidity that they are occasionally drowned by going too far for it 

 at low tides. The cattle and sheep of the Western Hebrides, make 

 most of their food for winter of another sea-weed — the Fucus 

 vesiculosus, of Linnaeus. It is good manure and makes kelp. This 

 sort is esteemed in Iceland. In Australia, the natives use the 

 Laminarium potatorum for several purposes, besides food, instru- 

 ments, vessels, &c. 



The Royal Society of Van Dieman, say that Algse cast on the 

 shores of Sloper island, produce a pure and delicious jelly used 

 for years. Bull kelp is dried, then roasted by the natives, then 

 soaked in fresh water for ten or twelve hours, then it is fit to eat. 

 Mr. Howie found it exceedingly nutritious and fattening. The 

 pepper Dulse (Lamonica pinnatafida of Lamouroux) has a pun- 

 gent taste, and is used as a condiment for other sea weeds. There 

 was formerly a cry in the stieets of Edinburgh and Glasgow, 

 " Buy Dulse and Tangle," like that of water cresses now. The 

 long sea cat gut of Orkney, (Chorda filum,) is used for food and 

 fish lines. 



The Iridsea Edulis, of Bovy, resembles roasted oysters in taste. 

 The Chondrus Crispus, or Carrigiea moss, or Irish moss, is bleached 

 and sold in commerce for making blanc-mange and jellies, in 

 place ot isinglass. It contains nearly 78 per cent ot mucilaginous 

 and gelatinous material. A like sea weed is found at the Cape of 

 Go6d Hope, and used similarly. 



The Laminaria Saccharinae, is highly esteemed in Japan — it is 

 sugary. Millions of people in Japan and the Kurile islands, use 

 it as a favorite dish. 



