32 MUSSEL CULTURE 



attractive to 'foreigners.' The local supply can 

 easily be met by the native shell-fish beds, and by 

 the use of worm and herring bait. 



Since Iceland has prohibited the selling of bait 

 to boats from the south, in order that the large 

 whelks which are mostly used may be preserved 

 for Icelanders, the custom has sprung up for 

 Scotch and French boats to pick up mussel bait 

 at the Shetlands, on their way north. Consider- 

 able beds have in this way become known to 

 fishermen. The boats visiting the Shetland scalps 

 load mussels for several days, packing them in 

 salt or ice brought for the purpose. 



Loch Roag Bed, Lewis. — These beds, which 

 are now in a rather exhausted coudition, are 

 situated on the west of the island of Lewis. 

 About thirty years ago they are said to have 

 been most rich in their supply of mussels, and to 

 have attracted boats from the north and east of 

 the mainland. They were entirely unprotected, 

 and most ruthlessly over-fished. Mr. Anderson 

 Smith, who knows the beds, has described the 

 manner in which both large and small mussels 

 were taken, those not suitable for bait being 

 thrown away.^ 



^ Report on Scottish Mussel and Bait Beds, 1889, p. 141. 



