CAUUAGEEN IN MASSACHUSETTS. 
299 
of that island, and was converted into size for house painters, and also esteemed for 
medicinal and culinary purposes. That imported to America was used in making cus¬ 
tards and blanc-mange, and sometimes sold as high as 75 cents per pound, retail In 1849 
several parties commenced making a business of gathering and curing Chondrus crispus 
at bcituate, Plymouth county, Massachusetts, and produced the first considerable quan- 
tity of the domestic article ever sold in Boston. This is still the only point in the 
fetates where any noticeable amount is collected, the business having lately been largely 
increased, until the annual crop is not far from 500,000 pounds—equal to about G000 
Its range.— Some seaweeds are cosmopolitan, and are equally abundant in all lati¬ 
tudes ; but generally Alga are more or less local in their distribution, and different 
marine floras are found in the different parts of the ocean. The degree of exposure to 
light, and the greater or less motion of the sea, have an important effect. The green 
Alga occur either in the shallower parts of the sea or in fresh water; the olive colour is 
characteristic of those seaweeds that abound between the tide-marks ; while the red- 
coloured species grow in the deeper and darker parts of the ocean. 
The Suborder Rhoclospermea, in which Harvey classes the Chondrus crispus, seem to 
flourish in the temperate zone, while Chlorospermea increase as we pass northward, and 
Melanospermea towards the tropics But while Chondrus crispus appears, under certain 
conditions, to abound in the temperate zone, it is generally incrusted with various 
minute mollusca that cause its rejection by the dealers. The rocks on the shores of 
Scituate, in the main, undoubtedly produce the best article yet discovered in this 
country. But there are ledges here, where the mussel attaches* to the plant, that are 
wholly abandoned by the mossers. Indeed, the range of the clean-growing Chondrus 
seems to be very limited. 
It has been remarked by those who have visited Cape Ann and the eastern shore for 
the purpose of testing the quality of the moss growing there, that the product of those 
parts is of a coarse and limy character. Perhaps, however, this moss, in some instances, 
may be susceptible of improvement. The old plant should first be entirely removed, 
which would be immediately succeeded by a new growth ; and if this exhibits a marked 
superiority over the old plants much may be expected of the ledge, for each successive 
“pull will produce an improvement in the moss. That the abundant moss growing to 
the eastward has not been fairly subjected to this test, and the improved article brought 
into market, indicates either a want of knowledge of the necessarv process of improving 
or the absence of those whose habits would naturally lead them to engage in the busi¬ 
ness ; or it may be that the plant in that quarter is not susceptible of any improvement, 
as the report goes. 
As regards perpendicular direction, Forbes remarks that one great marine belt or zone 
lies between high and low-water marks, and varies in species according to the kind of 
coast, but exhibits similar phenomena throughout the northern hemisphere. This is 
denominated the littoral zone, and necessarily varies according to the rise and fall of the 
tides. If I am right in my identification, the Fucus canaliculatus forms the upper sub- 
region of this zone, followed by a broad belt of F. nodosus, and, perhaps, F. vesiculosus 
and F. serratus. This is succeeded by a narrow belt of Chondrus crispus , interspersed 
with Rhodornenia palmata and Laminaria saccharina , which is exposed only at low ebbs. 
The Chondrus crispus, however, extends some distance below low-water "mark into the 
laminarian zone, its fronds increasing in width as the water becomes deeper. The la- 
miuarian zone extends to a depth of from seven to fifteen fathoms. Here the great sea 
tangle, Laminaria digitata —improperly called kelp—abounds. 
Gathering and Curing. —The mossers begin the “pull” of moss late on the spring 
tide of the full moon of May. This is earlier than it should be, for moss, like the grass 
in our pastures, attains but a feeble growth in the month of May. This prematurely- 
gathered moss suffers a great loss by shrinkage, and cannot be made to “hold its colour” 
when bleached. This practice is probably owing to the restlessness of those mossers 
who, having no gardens to plant, or but small ones, become weary of the idleness of 
winter, and are anxious to resume their customary labour. 
Before any moss is pulled, however, the “bleaching beds” are carefully prepared. 
For these, sandy portions of the beach near the creeks are selected. The stones thrown 
upon the old beds by the action of the sea are raked off into something like wind rows, 
which divide the plats. The contents of the shanties are overhauled. Hand-barrows, 
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