So many names to describe what has provided a flourishing commerce at the start of the XX century. Nobody really knows who started harvesting it but almost everyone has mowed it down, at low tide on the bank of the river between Gros-Cacouna and Trois-Pistole.
Many have forgotten to work their fields some years so they would busy themselves on the banks of the river five to six hours, twice a day and reaping good money from it.
However, who may harvest it and should we pay to collect it, this and the attraction of easy money pushed many people to trespass on others territory. It was even said that it was the Lord from above who wanted to punish by destroying the moss but in fact, it was an illness that attacked it then killed it from year to year.
So with the disappearing of the sea moss, a trade and an income source vanished, almost the whole sea moss production was exported to the United State to make padding for automobile seats, mattresses, etc..
Also, we cannot remain silent about peat moss since it covers large superficies of our region and provides work to many hands, and that since a while because it replaced sea weed moss in the occupational ways of our fathers.
* Varech is also used as fertilizer in fields and gardens
2. Peat moss
We were informed that the raised constructions in Cacouna for the manufacturing of pressed pear moss burned to the ground on the 19th of this month.
The machinery on location were destroyed. It is said that the losses will exceed $ 10,000. there was only for $ 2,500. worth of assurances.
We hope that this accident won't stop company operations for the moss, an excellent industry for our region.
"Le St-Laurent" Friday 22 November 1901
1 & 2. Source: Essaies sur l’histoire civile et sociale de Cacouna par Lynda Dionne, Georges Pelletier et autres 1975
Many have forgotten to work their fields some years so they would busy themselves on the banks of the river five to six hours, twice a day and reaping good money from it. 
