The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-03-18
Farming Under the Sea.

The fact is not generally known, even
in these parts, the business having been
conducted in a quiet manner, that within
three hours ride of Boston a large and
profitable business has been carried on
ever since 1910 along the sea-shore, and
which is nothing more nor less than
farming under the sea. Six miles south
of Minot's Light-that tall pharos that
stands out in the sea, rocked as a cradle
on a hidden rock-on the southern side
of Massachusetts Bay, the shore sudden
ly changes it's direction and turns away
from the southwest to little west of
south. Just at the turn is Scituate
harbor and behind the harbor is the
quaint little village of Scituate, still sug-
gestive of Old Colony times and customs.
1t was here that the sold oaken bucket"
hung in its well. The summer tourist
overlooks this place, with its dismantled
lighthouse, its breezy cliffs and noble
views of land and sea. Everywhere
upon the coast of Eastern New England
may be found, about ten feet below
water-mark, the ichen known as CARA
geen-the " Irish moss" of commerce. It
may be torn from the sunken rocks
anywhere, and yet this little seaport of
Seituate is almost the only place in the
country where it is gathered and cured.
This village is the center of the moss
business in this country, and the entire
Union draws its supplies from those
beaches. Long rakes are used in ti!ling
this marine farm, and it does not take
long to fill the many diaries that await
the lichen, torn from its salty, rocky bed.
Puppies and browns, maroons, blacks,
yellows and dull dark reds CLEAN and
glisten in the sunlight. Airy fronds, too
delicate to grow in the open air, they
spread their lace-like shapes under the
soft water, far down in the quiet, below
the foam and roar of the sea. Every
mnss-covered rock, every long frond of
kelp, every cluster and grove of yellow
rock-weed and patch of sea-lettuce
stands out clear in a curiously- reflected
light, while the lOrdly lobster, a sort of a
green dragon, crawling backward and
trailing his arm behind him, darts out
from between the groves of kelp as the
cruel rake is drawn across the fruit,
and, with staring yellow eyes in
his hideous face, tie creature
seems to object to such an intrusion
from above and swims of, with
rolling motion, through the schools of
jelly-fishes, whose gorgeous globes are
radiant with every tint of the rainbow.
Every rock and bowlder is covered with
moss. The husbands and fathers gather
the moss from the sea, and the wives and
daughters prepare it for market by Pc
culiar yet simple process. Soak it in
water and it will melt away to jelly.
Boil it with milk, and delicious, white
and creamy blanc-mange, is the result.
But this messing is hard life. It's wet
and cold in the boat, the sand of the
beach is hot and burning, and the wash.
ing-tubs are hard on the back. The moss
business at Scituate was started in 1849
by resident of the place. At that time
the demand for the article was limited
but it has now increased to an annual
product of 600 barrels, and brings 49,.
coo into the town, which sum is shared by
some $50 families. Its consumption in
the manufacture of lager beer is very
large, and the entire beer interest in the
country draws its supplies from Scituate
beaches, as the importation from Ireland
has almost ceased. 1t is well known that
the moss, as an article of food, is called
Sea Moss Falina."-Boston Cor. San
FrancSsc0 Call.