77 



interval between 1877 and 1899 ; that is, in 1877 the 

 weight of cockles taken from the whole Bay was 

 approximately 3,940 tons, in the year 1898 — 99, considered 

 in this Eeport, it was 3,240, the difference being approxi- 

 mately equal to the decrease in the produce of the beds 

 on the southern side of the Bay. But the irregular 

 nature of the fishing here has been already commented 

 on, and it is fair to conclude that the decrease is only a 

 temporary one. 



In this comparison the change in the conditions of the 

 fishery must be borne in mind. In 1877 the fishing was 

 not regulated in any way, and cockles of any size might 

 be sent into the markets, but at the present time, only 

 cockles having the minimum breadth of three-quarter 

 inch are allowed to be landed and consequently sent 

 over rail, so that on the areas compared, cockles must 

 now be more abundant than in 1877. 



On the whole, it does not appear that there has been 

 any permanent decrease in the cockle fishery of More- 

 cambe Bay proper. Fluctuations from year to year have 

 been experienced, and it may be gleaned from the Board 

 of Trade Statistical Tables that though there have been 

 some lean years, such as 1895 — 96, others — such as 1897 

 — have been correspondingly fat, and that, on the whole, 

 the fishing has been, if anything, improving. It has not 

 been possible to investigate the rest of the District to the 

 same extent, but it may be safely assumed that there also, 

 the yield of the beds has been, on the whole, maintained. 

 The Commissioners of 1879, as the result of their in- 

 quiries, stated that they had " been unable to trace any 

 decrease in the fishery." So far as the data obtained in 

 the course of the present investigation go, that statement 

 may be safely repeated. 



