'1 lie Scottish Naturalist. 6 



sire for ornamentation found with the Roman matron a gratifica- 

 tion in the Scotch pearl. 



By such associations I was induced to make an attempt at plant- 

 ing a mussel bed in the river Isla. I was encouraged also to make 

 this effort because it is generally believed that where mussels ex- 

 ist the trout fishing of a river is improved, and, further, by the 

 thought that the romantic character of the Isla might be increased 

 by the possibility of one day picking up a mussel enclosing a 

 pearl. I therefore put myself in communication with John 

 Farquharson, pearl fisher, Coupar-Angus, who dubs himself 

 pearl fisher to the Prince of Wales, and who certainly has 

 been lucky in finding valuable pearls, and in selling them to 

 the high born. My bargain with him was to procure and lay 

 down on my property 3000 live and sound mussels, to be 

 transported with all rapidity from the Balquhidder river in Rob 

 Roy's country, to a place called Nyds in the parish of Glen- 

 isla. This was effected on 15th October 1881, on which day 

 3000 mussels were in the early dawn placed on the rail- 

 way, and arrived at Alyth at 10.30 a.m., whence a dogcart 

 rapidly conveyed the fisher and his boxes to Glenisla. The shells 

 were packed in moss, moistened now and again during transit- 

 What I am now to say on the scientific side is drawn chiefly from 

 Mr. Farquharson's experiences. The deposit of mussels in the Bal- 

 quhidder is limitless. Mr. Farquharson had liberty from the pro- 

 prietor to fish for pearls and to make use of the shells themselves, 

 in any way calculated to augment his income or the ends of 

 science. The mussels were fished for in a sluggish piece of water 

 at Balquhidder of considerable extent, the average depth of which 

 is about 7 feet. He has constructed for himself a small wherry the 

 size of which is about 3 feet 3 inches each way. He seats himself 

 in his little boat and having provided himself with a long pole or 

 wand, with a small split at the lower end, he eyes the mussels with 

 correct aim ; and when the bottom of the river is free from dis- 

 turbance, and the water peaceful and in its ordinary state, he can 

 bring up about 6 mussels in a minute. He seizes the mussel with 

 the split of the wand : and pushes it down until the swelling of 

 the shell is passed, and with a gentle pull he renders the mussel a 

 captive, and lands it in the wherry, or on the side of the stream. 

 If the shell is standing on its end a little open at the top, this 

 position is a sign of life and energy. This fishing is rendered 



