20 



THE PROBLEM OF MUSSEL CULTURE. 



By a. meek. 



The experiments which have been made at Fenham Flats 

 have demonstrated that the mussels naturally settle in places 

 where thej^ do not grow satisfactority, and that when the mussels 

 are transplanted to the Scaup they rapidly reach a bait size. The 

 larger mussels thus transplanted are ready for use in a year, and 

 the smaller ones in two years. 



At the present time there are five plots on the Scaup which 

 were laid dovm. by the Holy Island fishermen in accordance mth 

 an arrangement made last year. One of the plots was formed 

 in July and the rest in September, 1916. They were inspected 

 by Sir Francis Walker and Col. A. Marshall on behalf of the 

 Northumberland Sea Fisheries Committee on November 27th, 

 and the following report of the visit was presented at the April 

 quarterly meeting : — 



" We visited the mussel scaup at Fenham Flats on Monday, 

 November 27th, and inspected the bed which had been formed 

 hj five of the Holy Island fishermen. These beds w^ere made by 

 arrangement bj^ transplanting mussels naturally deposited higher 

 up the Flats on the Scaup. One of the plots was formed in July 

 and the rest in September. 



" The visit indicated : — 



1. " That there is a large area available for mussel cultiva- 



tion. 



2. " That the mussels grow rapidly after transplantation. 



3 . " That Fenham Flats being free from sewage contamina- 



tion offers an excellent opportunity, if more mussels 

 than are required for bait are cultivated, of sup- 

 pl}dng the markets mth a rehable mussel for 

 human consumption. 

 " The method of cultivation which is likely, at least to begin 

 with, to be most satisfactory, is a simple one. Spat settles at 



