1. A tang-bowe made an excellent water pistol. A tang-bowe is a sizeable bladder of seaweed which was removed from the parent plant, then the end bitten or cut off. It was pressed flat to expell the air inside, then immersed in water until filled to capacity, and used very effectively as a water pistol or ‘skeetie’ when squeezed [Lerwick, Shetland, March 1994].

Image: Blue Anchor, Somerset; March 2014.