COLLECTION, PRESERVATION, USES, ETC. 33 



Before I close this chapter, I must devote a few lines 

 to a glance at my subject from one other point of view 

 — the cui bono aspect, if I may so call it, of Sea-weeds. 



In early times, when true science scarcely existed, and 

 every product and phenomenon of Nature was valued 

 according to its evident effect on man's real or supposed 

 happiness, or in proportion to the gratification that it 

 afforded, many things were deemed worthless simply be- 

 cause their uses were not understood, or their indirect 

 action was overlooked. 



This was the case with Sea- weeds, and in the rare in- 

 stances that they are mentioned by ancient authors, the 

 epithet ' useless' or ' vile' is always added. 



The spread of scientific knowledge has reversed this 

 verdict, and oceanic vegetation, which is almost wholly 

 composed of Algse, is admitted to be of vast importance 

 in the economy of Nature. To it is entrusted the func- 

 tion of converting the mineral matter held in solution 

 in the water into organic substances fit for food for the 

 myriads of various animals that inhabit the sea. This 

 it does, either directly or indirectly ; the former in the 

 case of those mollusks, fish, etc., that are vegetarians, 

 the latter with those that are carnivorous, — so that we 

 are in some degree indebted to the " vile alga" for every 

 dainty dish of fish we eat. Had Horace, epicure that 

 he was, thought of this, he would have written very dif- 

 ferently on the subject, and would, probably have im- 

 mortalized the merits of the weeds which lack of know- 

 ledge of their virtues led him to despise. 



Subsidiary to these general services there are many 

 special purposes of agriculture, art, manufacture, and 

 medicine to which certain kinds of Sea-weeds are appli- 

 cable. On almost every coast where it is abundant, 



D 



