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presumed that the settling of the larvae is not due to the presence 

 of mussels in one particular spot, but to the setthng of spat, drifted 

 there from a place or places on the current side of the region. So 

 far as the east coast of the British Islands is concerned it may be 

 said that the larvae after a series of pulsations in the tidal currents 

 are carried to the south. 



Mcintosh in particular has drawn attention to the immense 

 number of young mussels in such an area as St. Andrews Bay 

 during July and August. He further noted that when they settled 

 on zoophytes and the Uke at the bottom, they had the power of 

 detaching themselves and becoming planktonic. Depending on 

 this and other variable circumstances, it is evident that the young 

 mussels may be carried some distance along the coast before they 

 settle down more or less completely. Their efforts are evidently 

 circumscribed however, judging from the large numbers which 

 attach themselves to rocks in situations where they only arrive at 

 a stunted growth. 



In such a region as Fenham Flats therefore, it is only right to 

 keep in mmd that however we may extend the resources of the 

 area by transplantation we are not thereby increasing the local 

 deposition of spat. Should we wish to retain spat from the Holy 

 Island mussels it would be necessary to prepare a pond or ponds 

 in which a selection of mature mussels could be placed each season, 

 and in which the larvae could be retained until they settle down 

 and make some progress in growth. 



Larvae in plenty find their way into the region of the Flats, 

 and the spat which settles in the regions above specified is ample 

 for the requirements should it be decided to develop the area. 



The mussel scaup at Holy Island is a large one, and at present 

 beyond supporting a few cockles and perimnkles it may be said 

 to be practically wasted. So far, however, the Committee is 

 finding difficulty in obtaining the necessary powers to take over 

 the area and devote it to the purpose of supplying shellfish and 

 particularly mussels. I hope, however, to be able to report that 

 the difficulties have been overcome, and that a mussel bed has been 

 instituted on the lines indicated in this report. 



