Eating Seaweed

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 532, 8 December 1928, Page 13

Eating Seaweed

Possibility of Future WILL ALSO MAKE ROADS The possibility of obtaining seaweed in Australia in sufficient quantities for it to be used for medicinal and other purposes is being investigated by Professor A. H. S. Lucas, of Sydney, who has returned from a thre*e months' tour of West and South Australia. Professor Lncas made his tour at the invitation of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Prior to his retirement. Professor Lucas, who is 75, was Professor of Mathematics at the University of Tasmania. He has made a lifelong study of seaweeds. "Australia is far behind other countries in research in the value of seaweeds,” he said. "Unfortunately, I am the only man in Australia making a study of this subject. During his tour around the coast. Professor Lucas visited Rottnest . Island. Geraldton, Bunbury, Busselton, Penguin Island, Cape Leeuwin, and Albany. Professor Lucas’s aim is to make a standard collection of Australian seaweeds for reference purposes. There are 1,500 varieties. During his tour he collected large quantities of material, which will take years to classify. “There are undoubtedly many ways we can use seaweed if it can be obtained in sufficient quantities,” said Professor Lucas. "In West Australia there is a variety known as the ‘jelly plant.’ It makes an excellent jelly - and Is rich in vitamines. A firm has started treating this seaweed and selling it as a powder, to be sprinkled over food like pepper and salt. It can also be incorporated in confectionery.” Professor Lucas exploded the idea that seaweed is poisonous. He said that all forms were more or less nutritious. Scottish people ate a great deal of Dulse seaweed, which was both tasty and inexpensive. Another'" form known as Lavers Seaweed was also frequently eaten as spinach. This could be obtained in fair quantities in West Australia. "Seaweed is also a source of potash and iodine,” Professor Lucas said. “Dr. Simpson, of Perth, made an analysis of various kinds of seaweed I gave him and found that 3.39 per cent, of ash was iodine. If sufficient quantities of suitable kelp can be obtained, there is no reason why iodine should not be manufactured in Australia from seaweed.” Heavy types of seaweed could be used as foundations for roads across - sandy tracks of country,” said Professor Lucas. This had already been ' attempted in Australia with marked success. It could also be used as a fertiliser. In France large quantities of dried seaweed were used as manure. Early settlers in West Australia - had also used it for this purpose, but with the development of phosphates its popularity had waned. "We should not forget that seaweed plays an essential part in the Hfe of the sea,” the professor added. “If fishermen cared to take the trouble to discover where the great beds of seaweed are around the coast, they would greatly increase their hauls.” Professor Lucas will return to his home in Sydney early next week. He Intends to furnish the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research with a lengthy and detailed report on his expedition, and will also be kept busy classifying his samples.