63 



for food. A number of the pupils of the Kamehameha schools from 

 different islands have, with the aid of their relatives, helped secure 

 specimens of their edible algse with the native names. They have also 

 furnished many notes on the preparation and preservation of algse for 

 food. The writer is also very greatly indebted to Dr. W. A. Setchell, 

 of the University of California, for identifying and verifying many 

 specimens, and to R. A. Duncan, food commissioner and chemist of 

 the Territory of Hawaii, for analyzing the edible algse and for the 

 use of his library. 



The following publications have been consulted for tables of analyses 

 and other data: U. S. Dept. Agr., Office of Experiment Stations Cir- 

 cular 46 (rev.), by C. F. Langworthy, Ph. D.; Office of Experiment 

 Stations Bulletins 68, 107, and 159; United States Dispensatory; 

 Analyses of Taro and Poi, report of Dr. E. C. Shorey when food 

 commissioner and chemist of the Territory of Hawaii; Postelsia, 

 the yearbook of Minnesota Seaside Station, 1901; and Seaweed 

 Industries of Japan and the Utilization of Seaweeds in the United 

 States, by Hugh M. Smith. Bui. [U. S.] Bureau of Fisheries, 24 

 (1904). 



METHODS OF GATHERING LIMUS. 



Most of the limu is gathered by native women and children, except 

 that which grows in the deeper or rougher water, far out on the coral 

 reefs, or on exposed rocks, where expert swimming and more strength 

 are required, and also where a boat is usually needed. In such places 

 at least two people are required, and often a party of three or more 

 men and women go together. The women usually gather the limu 

 while the men are fishing and caring for the boat and nets. 



The limu gatherers go out at low tide with tin pails, old sacks, and 

 pieces of sharpened iron or an old knife, and scrape the seaweed from 

 the coral or rocks. The seaweed is freed from sand and pebbles and 

 each kind placed in a separate receptacle, if j)Ossible. If the limu 

 grows nearer shore in the sand or mud, or floats in near the beach, the 

 women and children wade out, gathering it without any implements, 

 carefully washing out the sand, mud, or small sea animals, and pulling 

 out all inedible limu before placing it in their pails or sacks. They 

 often wade out into the water above the waist, following the tide as it 

 recedes. A few varieties of limu drift ashore, and are simp] jr gathered 

 along the water's edge from the rocks and sand and shaken free from 

 the sand or inedible weeds. The following varieties are often found 

 drifted on the sand or rocks: Limu huna {Hypnea oiidifica), limu 

 manauea ( Gracilaria cor onopif olio), limu kala {Sargassum echinocar- 

 pwn and S. cymosum), and limu lipeepee or limu maneoneo {Laurencia 

 papulosa, L. pinnatiflda, L. virgata, L. oitusata, and a few other species 

 of Laurencia not yet identified). 



