The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1900-08-03

by rain than the other kind /: as iodine
producers there is little to choose be.
tween the two.
Tangle is torn up and driven ashore
during the winter gales which are so
common in the Hcbrides. 1t Is col
lected and Carefully stocked in small
heaps. usually on foundations built OF
sea-rounded stones, which are so ar
ranged as to allow the air t0 have free
access to the heaps. There the weed
remains until May, by which time it
is sufficiently dry for burning. Occa-
siunally the labor Of the helpers is
rendered nugatory by wet weather.
which rots the weed. In spring and
autumn large quantities of tangle
tops come ashore, forming by far the
greater proportion Of kelp weed This
substance, however. requires greater
care than the stems, as it is rendered |
valucless by rain.
Q 1.-The question suggests itself: Where
does the iodine IN the seaweed come
from, seeing that ordinary sea water
contains only the most minute frac.
ti0n of that substance 1t has been
urged with some show OF reason that
the gulf stream carries the iodine to
the Hcbrldean coasts, where it is read
lily assimilated by the weed plausible
facts are adduced in support of this
theory.
Kelp bnrning commences in May
and continues during the summer
months. KilnS made of sOds of stone,
and varying in size according to the
quantity OF scawced to be treated ia
common size hcng twelve to twenty
feet in length. Two to three feet in
breadth, and one foot in depth) are
erected, usually On plot Of grass,
and are fed with the dried weed,
which yields about a fifth Of It's
weight In kelp.
The usual method adopted for burn.
ing kelp is to place the fuel in the
kiln and to spread the seaweed lightly
over it. When kelp was first manufac-
tured in the Hehrides the ware was re-
duced to ashes; but a system of fusion
is now universally observed. This
process calls for constant and careful
attention the heat required for per-
feet fusion Is very great, and the
treatment involves as frequent stir
ringas does the successful cooking OF
oatmeal porridge. When the opera
tion is concluded the kelp Is in a semi
fluid state, and glows like molten
metal. 1t is then allowed to cool, and
when taken out Of the kiln appears
as a hard, heavy substance Of dark
gray color. The faces and hands Of
the Helpers are lit up by the mono
chrOmatic yellow fame which arises
from the volatilized sodium sal y
rakcd up by the Helpers clauts. Tle'|
mass Of kclp is finally broken up into
pieces Of suitable sizes for conveyance
to the markets, where its value de-
pends entirely upon the amount OF
iodine which it contains.
In Norway, where the manufacture
OF kep isa recent industry, and where
no prejudice exists in favor Of IA par
ticular method Of manufacture, the
kelp is properly burned to ash, and
the result is that it realizes its full
value in this market.
But sufficient facts have been cited
to show that even from the most hope
full point Of view, there is no pros
pect OF kelp-making again becoming
the lucrative employment which 1t
once was. Have the resurces Uf sea-
weed therefore come to and end? BY
no means indeed, it may be said that
its possibilities are only now being
gradually unfolded. A substance
named algin has within recent years
been discovered by 4. q. G. Stanford,
which.prOmiscs In course Of time to
set In motion once more the busy hook
and the sickle in cutting the thOus.
ands OF tons Of seawced which now
lie entirely unutilizcd on the High.
land and Hebrdean coasts. For IL is
satisfactory to know that by this new
or wet process, as it is called, both
drift and cut ware can be utilized.
although the former produces the
more satisfactory results.
AlRin. in Its natural state, is a glu-
tin0us, cOlorless substance, which sea-
weed contains In u large proportion.
The weed is stepped 10 sodium car
Donate for twenty.four hours, when it
becomesu U mass whose vic0sity is no
less than fourteen times that Of starch
aud thirty-seven times that Of gum
arabic. 1t is then Uttered, and tho
result Is soluble algin Or sodium algI.
nate. with a rcsiduum of celluloee.
On being pressed, II forms u compact
cake resembling new cheese, aud "
lean be stored for any length OF time
IN u cool drying.roOm. &
The uses to which algin can be put
are varied. 1t can be used for Sizing
fabrics, and as q mhrdant 10 dying II
has heen autllOritatively stated that
Il possesses valuable properties. In
these directions, more than any other,
a great commercial future Is predicted
for IT, Perhaps ~ most interesting
feature 70 the general public consists
| II Its value ~ On article Of fond. nv.