[seqfan] tilde at the beginning of a line when entering a new sequence

[W. Edwin Clark]

What is the significance (if any) of the ~  (tilde) at the beginning
of each line of a new entry?  When entering a new sequence
today I removed the tilde and got a message that the sequence
data wasn't in the correct format. When I replaced tilde, the sequence
data was accepted.

If ~ plays a role, perhaps this should be stated in the instructions
for entering a sequence. Or, is it and I just missed it?