How to Remove Quotes Surrounding Text Returned From CSV File Parse

Question

I am using the code below to compile a list of ticker symbols on the NASDAQ stock exchange. I am using the CSV file located here: http://www.nasdaq.com/screening/companies-by-industry.aspx?exchange=NASDAQ&render=download

When I open the CSV file in Excel there are no quotation marks around the ticker symbols. But when I run the code below. All of the ticker symbols returned to my list have quotation marks around them. Why is this? And how do I get rid of the quotation marks?

Here is my code:

Public Shared tickerList As New List(Of String)
Dim compositeList As New List(Of String) 
Dim strBuffer As String
        strBuffer = Historical_Stock_Prices.RequestWebData(http://www.nasdaq.com/screening/companies-by-industry.aspx?exchange=NASDAQ&render=download)
        Dim sReader As New StringReader(strBuffer)
        Dim Line_List As New List(Of String)
        Do While sReader.Peek >= 0
            Line_List.Add(sReader.ReadLine)
        Loop
        Line_List.RemoveAt(0)
        For Each Line In Line_List
            compositeList.Add(Line.Split(",")(0).Trim.ToLower)
        Next
        sReader.Close()
tickerList = compositeList.Distinct.ToList
tickerList.Sort()

Answer 1

compositeList.Add(Line.Split(",")(0).Trim(New Char() {""""}).ToLower)

Answer 2

myString = myString.Substring(1, myString.Length -1)

That will remove first and last characters.