24 



The experiment will be continued, but it would be helped 

 considerably if the fishermen would transplant mussels and form 

 for themselves beds which would in a short time yield them a supply 

 of good bait mussels. The labour entailed need not be great, for 

 sufficient mussels to last a year could be transplanted in a few days. 

 This work could be done when it would be impossible to go to sea 

 on account of weather, and if it were undertaken in a systematic 

 manner from year to year the supply of bait mussels would be 

 continuous, for as one year's bed became exhausted, the next year's 

 mussels would be ready for use. The exhausted beds could be re- 

 stocked again by transplantation. As well as providing a stock 

 of bait mussels for themselves, the fishermen would be helping to 

 increase the natural resources of the district, the value coming from 

 which must to a large extent find its way into the hands of the men 

 living in the neighbourhood of the mussel beds. 



This opportunity is taken of expressing our thanks to Mr. 

 Leyland, of Haggerston Castle, for his kindness in supplying us 

 with suitable material for the erection of the fences, and also to 

 Mr. Cayley, Haggerston Castle Estate Office, for the arrangements 

 made for the delivery of this material. 



