F. S. WriCxHT 127 



The history of the Aberdovey mussel beds (and, indeed, of the Cardigan 

 Bay beds in general), is difficult or impossible to trace. It is safe to say 

 that they have suffered many vicissitudes, as, with the slightest de- 

 flection of the river channel, portions of the beds are always liable to 

 be covered by the sand, and their population killed. Such accidents 

 have happened time and again ; yet the current that destroys one bed 

 may uncover another stony area, that, within a short time, affords 

 a holdfast for a very populous colony of mussels. 



The fishing grounds at Aberdovey, then, may be said to comprise a 

 strip of the foreshore on the north shore of the estuary from Trefri Point 

 to the Shipping Wharf, as well as portions of the river bed, etc. Their 

 continuity is broken by occasional patches of sand, but, roughly, the 

 length of the beds may be stated at one mile. Relative to the width 

 of the inlet, this strip is a narrow one, and, in places, exceedingly so. 



In all these situations, the mussel thrives satisfactorily, finding an 

 abundance of food material, the necessary degree of freshwater influence, 

 and other conditions suited to its habits. 



In the three estuaries there are certain beds (often of large extent 

 and occasionally supporting a crowded mussel population), where the 

 shellfish grow moderately well, while yet never attaining a marketable 

 condition. Such mussel beds will be described hereafter as "scars" 

 (skears), for want of a more convenient term. They generally differ in 

 several respects from the Lancashire mussel beds, properly so designated, 

 however. The population of the Cardigan Bay scars remains poorly 

 fleshed, and their shells, while usually free of Bcdanus, are for the most 

 part very thin and fragile. The last statement applies only to such 

 beds as become dry at long intervals. Otherwise the mussels are often 

 stunted or deformed, thick-shelled, and thickly encrusted with Balanus. 

 The repeated wetting and drying to which they are subjected cause the 

 shells to become rough and unsightly. When the chitinous outer shell- 

 layer (the periostracum) is lost, the prismatic layer becomes visible, 

 which, because of its colour, has caused such mussels to be called " blue 

 nebs" among fishermen. A large scar (probably several acres in extent, 

 although, for various reasons, its exact area is difficult to ascertain), 

 or bed of seed mussels occurs at Aberdovey, towards the Bar. It occu- 

 pies a portion of the north bank of the river, as well as of its bed, and 

 stretches from a short distance below the Wharf to within about half 

 a mile of the Bar. A portion of this bed, on the north shore, becomes 

 uncovered at exceptionally low spring tides, and this place is known 

 locally as Ro-ddu. 



