The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-26
sEAwEED AS FOOD.


From Paper by James G.. Swan.
The rude and simple experiments made
with the giant kelp OF Puget sound con-
WINGED me that IL Is capable OF being con-
verted into articles OF commercial value,
but as had not the means of conducting
experiments or of procuring the machin-
cry requisite 10 the manufacture of the
kelp products on a scale OF commercial
importance. | have allowed the matter 10
rest until some one of enterprise and cap
ital may be found, ready TO continue these
Investigations.
In order TO show those who may feel
interested in the development of this new
industry, will quote from valuable and
exhaustive paper ION the economic sppli-
cations of sea weed" by Edward c. C..
Stanford, F. c. s., read before the Society
of Arts, London. EngIand. May -. lSs4.
In Great Britain little advance has been
made in the use OF align as food. The
alga contain important heterogeneous con-
stituents and form nutritious articles of
diet. bat they have uot been popular. We
ali like the smell o. the sea air. but we do
not cultivate taste for our marine veg
etables. The aige, 50 far as known, con-
tain no poisonous species. Among the ed
ibie varieties, UlrG latiSsfUlG, or green
layer. and PorphgrG iaeisata, or pink iaver,
are occasionally used Ia soups. Ehoaomeggta
p18Htdfa. or duise. Is still sold In the streets
OF Edinburgh and Glasgow. 4tidra escss-
tcHta. or murllns, IS also eaten ia Ireland-
some Others are occasionally used, bat as
q general food tie alg@ are almost un-
known.
The best known British species Of the
edible alge Is the ChroadBs eTlspus. or Irish
moss; this grows tar down on the rccSs
and is Only uncovered at low spring tides.
Ii Is obtained mostly from the west coast
of Ireland, and after being bleached by
exposure TO sun and rain Is largely ex-
ported 20 England, Germany and the
United States. IL IS 3 getat3nous species
containing $ principle known as eGrTd-
gAeeaiA.
The other gelatinous British species is
the deslaeHm caTneuHa This Is net very
common, bat furnishes the import known
IS japanese isingiass. Of which IL contains
50 per cent Ihe substance. known also
~ gsiose, vas aFsf imported into France
from China n iSiss; is has great gesatinlz-
ing powers, much higher than any other
material; gslose has eight times the geia-
EiniziBg power oil isinglass and gelafsne,
but the melting point Of the jelly IS TOO
high 10 melt quickly in the moath, hence
gelatine Is stat the fAvorite. Iae lar0asslss
evixptas IS foaDd On the Atlantic coast and
forms one Of the industries IF Cape Cod.
il IS also found on the F@c.flc coast from
Cape klattery 10 Alaska
The green and PINK iaver and dusss sre
com mon, and constitute sn article Of diet
oil The Haida Indians q Queen Charlotte
islands and other trIbes on the Northwest
coast, who prepare these sssweeds By dry
ia x and pressing them into com pact blocks.
WAen required FOR food, these blocks ars
sliced wita sharp knife, then soaked 10
fresh water and boiled. The slge are not
in general use among al the tribes of the
Northwest coast, bal they form large
article Of food consumption Ia China and
JapAn.
Tas taste fer marine vegetables must be
acquired, buE those wac have eaten of
taeE1 ars said 80 become serY fond OF
them. and some gentlemen N the High
lands OF Scotland, personally known %
Mr.. Stanford As no mean judges o. diet.
consider a'1lsA OF daiss boiled IN ullg the
ersk Of al vegetables" There 5 no doubt
thai agAluabae foo1 Is lost Ia entirely neg
aeestng Ire algM- / have parEaken OF 8
Ezeal of GaiSe boiled wlth h2llbat py
the hzsda Indians whIe or Qaesn Ihar-
losss sis.Aa1s. ~ 4sS3, and / fo1ad IL very