8 
THE SEAWEEDS 
of Victoria, a list of the Algae found by him. Miss Jessie Hussey sent 
seaweeds to Agardh from Port Elliot, South Australia, and Mrs. Louisa 
Meredith from Orford, Tasmania. One of Agardh ’s more important 
publications was a fine Monograph of the Australian Sargassa, illustrated 
by 31 plates. Later Reinbold of Itzehow, Denmark, described South Aus- 
tralian plants sent to him from Investigator Strait by Miss Nellie Davey, 
aud from Rivoli and Guichen Bays by Dr. A. Engelhardt, of Kingston. 
During the present century practically the only additions made to our 
knowledge of Australian Algae have been made in the papers published 
by myself in the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 
The number of described species of Australian Algae at present recorded 
is about 1,500. Doubtless more will be discovered, especially when the 
Northern Coasts have been, systematically investigated ; and indeed in well- 
worked areas new forms may be expected. 
HINTS ON COLLECTING AND PRESERVING SEAWEEDS. 
Collecting. — The seaweed hunter is at times helped abundantly by 
Nature when by aid of storms she piles up specimens in heaps on the beach. 
The collector of land plants is not similarly favoured. 
In a recently formed heap, fresh and complete weeds are often to be 
had for the labour of picking out the different kinds. After exceptionally 
heavy gales the forms which grow in deeper water appear amongst the 
rest. But such gales only occur two or three times in the year and the 
collector is fortunate if he be on the spot at the time. A beach may be 
visited again and again without profit if one relies on the weeds strewn 
on the shore. 
At low tide, flats and rocks are uncovered so that it is possible to gather 
growing species without wetting the feet. It is better, however, to be 
prepared to wade in water a foot or two deep, and rubber wading boots are 
serviceable. It is convenient to carry a stout knife to remove closely 
adhering plants or to secure the base of a weed with its attachment. 
A certain amount of collecting can be done in a rowing boat, making 
use of a rake or drag, but the best method of gathering deeper water plants 
is that of dredging from a motor boat. 
For shore collecting the equipment need not be elaborate. A basket or 
two for holding the weeds, a hooked stick or small rake for plants just out 
of reach of the hands, and a stout knife, are all the paraphernalia in 
general required in the case of plants intended for mounting and drying. 
If the weed has to be carried some distance, and especially if the weather 
be hot, it is as well to be provided with a bucket or tin so that the weeds 
may be conveyed home in sea water. Small and delicate weeds are best 
placed separately in small tubes or phials containing a 1 per cent, solution 
of formaldehyde. 
