To prepare oligouronic acids from high-molecular-weight alginates prepared from sea tangle (Laminaria japonica), the alginates were hydrolyzed at various temperatures for 1 hr at pH 5.0. The effects of hydrolysis temperature $(H_{Temp})$ on the average molecular weight (AMW) and distribution ratio of MW (DR) in the hydrolyzed alginates were investigated. As $(H_{Temp})$ increased, the AMW of the alginates decreased exponentially; in addition the DR of the alginates with MW>500 kDa decreased exponentially, while the DR of those with MW=50-100 and MW<50 kDa increased exponentially. For the alginates with MW=300-500 and MW=100-300 kDa the DR increased exponentially until $H_{Temp}$ reached $80^{circ}C$, and then decreased exponentially at above $80^{circ}C$. AS $H_{Temp}$ increased, the MW cutoff size and AMW Of the alginates fraction With the highest DR both decreased. For $H_{Temp}<60^{circ}C$, the MW cutoff size with the highest DR was MW>500 kDa; the DR was 39-67% and the AMW 1,000-1,300 kDa. For $H_{Temp}$ $80^{circ}C$, the MW cutoff size with the highest DR was MW=300-500 kDa and the DR was about 33% and the AMW about 400 kDa. For $H_{Temp};100-121^{circ}C$, the MW cutoff size with the highest DRs was MW=50-100 kDa, with a DR of 39-44% and an AMW of 70-80 kDa.