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Show SSSxSSSxS"Ss3xSj3x No Profitable Market for American Seaweed America's Interest in Its own sea- ' weed resources dates back to pre-Columbian times, when Indians used It as fish bait and for basket weaving. In 1902 a scientist discovered that seaweed sea-weed on the Pacific const contained potash, Important fertilizing element. But he could Interest no one in his discovery dis-covery for a decade. As In the case of many other raw products, a World war was necessary to make its Importance known. German Ger-man potash supplies were cut off. The farms cried for potash, so the government govern-ment set out to find a source. A company com-pany manufacturing explosives also needed a substance from seaweed as an Ingredient for Its products, so It built a $2,000,000 plant In California. Groups of men first attacked the vast seaweed "plantations" with sickles, sick-les, but It was not long before steam and gasoline-propelled scows equipped with mechanical harvesting machinery dotted the Pacific seaweed fields. A dozen or more plants were established. When the armistice was signed, the companies disbanded almost as quickly quick-ly as they were established. Today one remains. The others succumbed to cheaper German potash or imported seaweed products. National Geographic Geo-graphic Society Bulletin. |