Agar degrading enzyme-agarase-was purified from the culture fluid of Cytophaga so/ ACLJ-18, by acetone precipitation, DEAE-Cellulose, Sephadex G-100 and CM-Sephadex C25 column chromatographies. The molecular weight of purified agarase was estimated to be 24,700 dalton by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The optimum pH and temperature for agarase activity were 7.0 and 40$^{circ}C$, respectively. this agarase was stable in the pH range of 6.5 - 8.0 and 40$^{circ}C$, and required 0.35M NaCl for optimum activity. And this agarase was inhibited by metal ions such as Ba2+, Cu2+, Co2+, Mn2+, Hg2+, Zn2+, and showed specificity on agar.