MYtlLUS EDULIS. 145 



Station, the tide retires a long- way, leaving a soft, 

 bare, clay shore, which is irregularly covered by 

 stretches of small gravel and green algae, chiefly 

 Ulvcv and Enter'omorjphce, with numerous fronds 

 of Porphyra and tufts of Ceramiwm rubrum. The 

 variety of shells is not great. Hydrobia ulvce may 

 be said to be plentiful amongst the green Ulvce; on 

 the stones left by the tide Littorina littorea and 

 L. obtusata are moderately common ; and there 

 appeared to be no scarcity of My a arenaria, if 

 sought for a short depth down in the muddy clay. 



What attracted my attention most, however, was 

 the large size of the mussels, which were often 

 anchored to each other in little bundles, among the 

 stones near and at low-water, where the tide affords 

 them protection from the children who seem to 

 swarm over the shore at that season gathering all 

 sorts of shell-fish that come in their way. 



The question has occurred to me — could these 

 mussels not be turned to some economic use? There 

 have been many attempts to establish musselries in 

 various parts of the kingdom, with more or less 

 success ; but the greatest difficulty seems to have 

 been to get suitable ground for the healthy develop- 

 ment of the molluscs, and their protection on the 

 sea-ward side from vagrant boats that might choose 

 to come and plunder. 



Cardross appears to be eminently suited to meet 

 all the requirements of this industry. The profusion 

 of well-grown mussels showed that the place is well 

 fitted for an abundant development of the molluscs; 

 and, as the estuary of the Clyde at this place is 

 private property, privileges of protection could be 

 obtained such as are seldom possible on the sea-shore. 



There can be little doubt that a profitable market 

 would at all times be open for the disposal of the 

 mussels, not only for esculent purposes but as bait. 

 The statement of the total quantity and value of 

 sea-fish landed on the coasts of Scotland during last 

 month (October), as reported by the Fishery Board 



