THE MARIN'K ALG.E OF NEW ENGLAND. \) 



and oO iathoins, and at a *,aeater depth than ."iO fathoms ahnost notliin^ 

 is found. The oystor-beds of the eoast should be carefully searched for 

 Cutlcriecv and other sea- weeds found in similar localities in Europe. Fi- 

 nally, a thorouijh exploration of the tidal rivers and sheltered coves of 

 the eastern coast of Xew En*^land is much to be desired, in order that 

 we may know to what extent the southern forms extend northward 

 when they find sulliciently warm water and a suitable jdace of j^^rowth. 



From an economical point of view, but little need be said with re;,^ard 

 to our sea-weeds as au article of food. Chondnis crispus, the Irish moss, 

 as it is called in this country, is the only species of any commercial value. 

 It is collected in considerable quantities at several localities, but espe- 

 cially at llingham, Mass. It is used for making sea-moss fariue, and is 

 also employed to some extent by brewers for clarifying beer. As yet the 

 use of Porphi/ra vuhjuris^ the laver, one of the common species for making 

 soups, has not been introduced. The Chinese employed in the shoe fac- 

 tories at North Adams, Mass., import the same species from China, not 

 apparently knowing that they could obtain an abundance of it in Mas- 

 sachusetts. The dulse, Rhodijmenia paJmata, is sold to some extent in the 

 seaport towns, especiallj- in Boston, where it is eaten principally by 

 sailors and the Irish population. It is generally imported from the Brit- 

 ish provinces, but it could be obtained in abundance an^'where north of 

 Boston, or even in some places in Long Island Sound. The great use of our 

 sea-weeds is for the purpose of mailing fertilizers, and immense quanti- 

 ties are carted from the beaches and spread over the land near the shore. 

 Us;ige, however, varies at different locJilities, for at Eastport the larger 

 sea- weeds, which are practically the same species that are highly esteemed 

 in Xew IIami)sliire and Massachusetts, are considered of little value in 

 comparison with animal manure. As far as I know, there are no manu- 

 factories of iodine or soda salts on our coast, although our species greatly 

 resemble those used in Scotland for tlie puq^ose. The stem of the 

 devil's aprons, Laminar icv^ are used by surgical-instrument makers iu 

 the manufacture of sponge-tents. 



Bespectfully submitted. 



AY. G. FABLOW. 



Cambridge, January 1, 18S0. 



STBUCTUBE AND CLASSIFICATION OF SEA- WEEDS. 



With a very few exceptions, all the jdants of our coast which may be 

 said really to grow in the water belong to the division of the vegetable 

 kingdom known as the Cryptogams^ or i)lants having no true llowers or 

 seeds. Only two species of tloweriug plants are commonly found sub- 

 merged iu stUt water, viz, Zostcra marina^ the salt-water eel-grass, and 

 Ruppia marl'ima. The former is familiar to every one who has ever 

 been to the shore, and is sometimes washed ashore in immense quant i- 



