New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-10
THE USES OF SEAWEED.
now THEE GATHERING OF IT CAN AGAIN
BE/1IADE PROFITABLE.
r BY W. c. MACKENZIE.

tarts OF the Western Isles of Scotland live. The
promoters Of these philanthropic efforts are meet
ing with encouraging degree of success. but
much gamnins 10 be done in developing the natural
resour ces (which these Islands have been proved to
posse'ss. Situated they distance from
the freyt manufacturing and commercial centres
% III /country they have pay the penalty Of
com Curative isolation Railway and other facilities
are fhowever, gradually removing the geographical
q abilities under which they suffer. and the Heb
deans daily coming into closer touch with the
Southern markets and with the modern ideas and
commercial progress which characterize life the
mainland at the end of the nineteenth century
Not the least important OF TIE resources alluded
10 IS the seaweed which lines the shores Of the
Hebrdes. and from which the article OF commerce
known kelp IS manufactured.
Kelp making at time formed highly impor-
tant source OF revenue in the Highlands and ISL
lands Of Scotland but owing various causes large
Lprofts a thing Of The past. AS far back as
the year 1720 the manufacture OF soap and glass at
Newcastle and OF alum Whitby stimulated the
introduction OF kep making to the shores of the
Forth 81 order 10 supply the English markets with
the raw material for the commodities named. In
the Orkneys II was manufactured for the first
time in 172s and years later ii was intro
duced to the Hebrides. which were destined to be-
come Its chief centre of production In ireland
bleaching OF linen appears to have given rise TO
the use OF kep.
PRICES GO DOWN
The prices obtained for keIp are almost startling
in their diversity. Prior 1880 it is recorded that
Orkney kelp sold Newcastle at Il 5s
ton during the latter half Of the eighteenth cen
fury the average price was between Ga and IS; AT
the beginning OF the present century It realized Ill
per ton. From this point the price rose rapidly TO
ky per ton. and the yield OF kelp the Hebrides
aione was much 20OO0 tons per annum The
resultant Of about 400 900 of seaweed This was
the highwater mark reached. The introduction of
bariila from Spain reduced in twenty years the
price Of kelD 10 80 los. and the. subsequent re-
Enova OF the high import duty or barilla furih her
reduced its value 10 IS los. The discovery of iodine
saved the kelp trade from extinction But once
again the cruel hand Of Fate was laid on the I'M
fortunate helpers, when, about TWENTY-FIVE years
ago iodine from Chi-as a byproduct Of the nj
trate or soda manufacture-came into the market.
and by its comparative cheapness ousted kelp from
the monopoly which it had held of the Iodine trade
and thus materially reduced its commercial value
In former years there were two distinct kinds of
weed used for the production of keJp. There were
the Fuel embracing the black. knobbed and blad-
Ger Wrack) and the Larlinaria. red driftweed
OF which the best known is the Ianinaria diaita-a
or tangle. The fuel cut from the rock by
hooks and sickles. and formed the most prolific
source OF carbonate Of soda. the production Of
Which. at the beginning of the century introduced
an area OF unexampled prosperity to the Hebrides
Cut"eed kelp was also largely used for soap and
glass making until barila took its place Even its
inanurial value has been questioned, owing to the
very large percentage of water and the relatively
II
TWO KINDS OF DRIFTWEED
KEEP is made entirely from two varieties Of
driftweed, of which tangle is less susceptible 20
deterioration by rain than kind as iodine
producers there is little choose between the two
Tangle is torn up and driven ashore during the
winter gales which so common in the Hebrides
1t is collected and carefully in small heaps
usually on foundations built of sea rounded stones
winch are so arranged TO allow the air TO have
iree access TO the heaps. There the weed re-
mains until May. by which time it is sufficiently
cry Tor burning. Occasionally the labor Of the
helpers is rendered nusatory by wet weather which
TTts ss me ne WseG In spring and autumn large guam
the greater proportion OF kelp weed. This sub
stance however, requires greater than the
The question suggests itself: Where does the
n 0ae si 1h ea%eed come from seeing that ord
ton OF that substance? 1t has been urged with
iodine to the Hebridean coasts Where eat II IS
ready assnilated by the weed; plausible facts
kelp burning commences in May and continues
stone and varying IN Size acsordn 81 10 s4 fS
quantity OF seaweed TO be treated "a common size
Ieet Ia breadth and one foot in depth erected.
dried weed. which yields about fifth of its weight
The usual method adopted for burning kelp Is to
place the, the fuel in the kiln and spread the
Eeed nightly over Il When kelp was first
ashes; but a system Of fusion is universally
careful attention; the heat required for perfect
fusion is great and the treatmen: Involves as
oatmeal porridge. When the operation is con-
Guided the kelp is in sernt-fiud state and gows
when taken out Of the kiln appears as a hard
heavy substance of dark gray color. The faces
and hands of the helpers are 1T up by the mono
chromatic yellow fame which arises from the
rolatilized sodium salts raked UP by the helpers
into pieces suitable sizes for convcyance 10 the
markets. where It's value depends entirely ,jpon
the amount Of iodine which it contains
MORE MODERN METHOD
In Norway. where the manufacture OF kep is a
recent Industry. and where prejudice exists in
favor Of particular method Of Manufacture the
kelp IS properly burned ash. and the result is
that it realizes its full value in this market.
But sufficient facts have been cited TO show that
from the most hopeful point Of vieR there
is present prospect of kelpmaking again beco,n-
Have the resources Of seaweed therefore come 10
an end? BY no means; indeed, il may be srd that
folded. A substance named alg!n has within recent
years been discovered by E {. c. Stanford. which
promises in course OF time in motion once
more the busy hook and the sickle IN cutting the
thousands OF tons OF seaweed which now lie entirely
nnutilized on the Highland and Hebridean' coasts
sor II Is satisfactory to know that by this
wet process. as ii IS called, both drift ware
can be utilized although the former produces the
more satisfactory results.
Align. in its natural state. is glutlnous colorless
substance. which eaweed contains in a large pro
portion. The weed Is STEPPED IN sodium carbonate
for twenty-four hours. when it becomes q mass
whose yiscosty less than fourteen times that
Of starch and thrty-seyen times that CT gum
hlg.ri sodium elginate, with residuum OF eel
iulose On being pressed. II forms compact cake
resembling cheese and II can be storedi for any
ength OF time ia a cool drying room
The use. 70 which algin can be put are, varied.
IN dyeins il has been Enthusiastically stated thai IL
possesses very valuable properties In these direc-
future is predicted for IT, Perhaps its most inter
ssg oT 70 the general public consists in rs value
weed In various forms is at the present day largely