298 THE MANUFACTURE OF KELP. 



The tar is that left after distilling in the presence of water. The vola- 

 tile oil, having thus been removed, is- stated separately, its weight being 

 included in the aqueous portion. The paraffine oil is distilled from this 

 tar ; the paraffin in it was not estimated. The pitch left behind in the 

 distillation was not weighed. The naphtha, volatile oil, and paraffin oil 

 were in all cases measured, as (in the crude state) impurities tell more on 

 the weight than on the measure. 



The Fucus nodosus, No. 5, 1 could not obtain in sufficient quantity for 

 distillation. The ammonia, tar, and oils were estimated in a tube experi- 

 ment on the small scale. The measures of gas in all the tables are only 

 approximative. A portion of the iodine is found among the products of 

 distillation, and that is expressed in the tables as volatile iodine. 



The products obtained from the residual charcoal are also shown in the 

 tables, the alkalies, for convenience, being expressed as chlorides. The 

 pure charcoal is the total amount of pure carbon yielded, and shows the 

 value of each weed for heating purposes. The ash is pure, containing 20 

 per cent, of earthy phosphates ; unadulterated kelp, as usually obtained, 

 contains about double the quantity of ash there stated, the difference being 

 unconsumed carbon ; as, however, it contains the same amount of phos- 

 phates, it would be worth no more than the quantity here indicated. 



These analyses conclusively prove that the present method of manu- 

 facturing kelp is an exceedingly wasteful one ; for not only are the consti- 

 tuents of the ash largely dissipated, but these valuable products of distilla- 

 tion are all volatilised into the air ; and taking as a rough calculation 10,000 

 tons to be the annual yield of kelp, we have the following qualities annually 

 disposed of in this manner : — 



Volatile oil 62,500 galls. 



Fixed oil 90,000 „ 



Naphtha 34,000 „ 



Ammonia : — (Calculated as sulphate) 1,216 tons. 



Acetic Acid : — (Calculated as acetate of lime). . . 167 „ 



Pure carbon 6,674 „ 



Colouring matter 29 „ 



Gas 45,560,000 cubic ft. 



Iodine 50,000 lbs. 



I leave commercial men to affix the values to these products, and then 

 weigh the amount against the 40,000Z. at present paid for the residuum of 

 this waste. Can we wonder that the helper works in rags ? Can we be 

 surprised that his operations are confined to desolate sea shores ? Or is it 

 astonishing that the kelp districts bring little revenue to their proprietors 

 —that the tenants pay little or no rent, when they thus throw half their 

 harvest away 1 It is difficult for those who have not visited these coasts to 

 form an idea of the vast accumulations of seaweed thrown up in the winter, 

 yet these, •universally admitted to be the most valuable, are all lost. Is it 



