MUSSEL BEDS OF SCOTLAND 21 



Leith Bed. — This bed, situated to the west 

 of Leith Pier, is the property of the city of Edin- 

 burgh, and is leased to the Newhaven Society of 

 Free Fishermen. It has an estimated area of 

 about 550 acres, and partly dries at low-water 

 springs. The yield from this bed seems to con- 

 tinue fair, although no special efforts are made to 

 cultivate it. The sewage of Leith is believed to 

 be most beneficial. Mussels from this bed are 

 sold at IS. a basket. 



Granton Bed lies to the west of the harbour, 

 towards Cramond Island, and is the property of 

 the Duke of Buccleuch. Its extent is apparently 

 not very clearly known, because the bed has been 

 formed naturally, and the ground is not worked 

 over. This bed seems to be a curious example 

 of mussels naturally asserting themselves on 

 ground protected in order to grow oysters, the 

 supply of oysters having failed. Mr. John Ander- 

 son, Edinburgh, was tenant of oyster fisheries in 

 1884, and did at that time sell off the mussels 

 which appeared. Since this time, however, a 

 more or less regular bed seems to have become 

 established, although in reality no mussels are 

 supposed to exist. Fishermen are not allowed to 

 dredge mussels on this otherwise unused ground. 



