MUSSEL BEDS OF SCOTLAND 33 



In the Skye district line-fishing is not prac- 

 tised to any great extent A few East Coast 

 boats with long lines visit the Inner Hebrides 

 during the winter months for the conger, cod, and 

 ling fishing. The numerous lochs, with natural 

 scalps around the mouths of streams and rivers, 

 supply a ready bait, and are free to all. They 

 need not be mentioned in detail. The only case 

 in which right of private fishing has been granted 

 is that of the Greshernish oyster and mussel 

 fishery. This order was confirmed in 1871, being 

 granted by the Board of Trade to John Robertson, 

 Esq. 



In the vicinity of Oban, where, during the 

 winter months, fishing by means of hook and 

 line is now practised by a few East Coast 

 boats, as in Skye, and also by local fishermen, 

 mussel bait can be procured from several lochs. 

 Natural beds of small extent exist in several of 

 the lochs in the island of Mull, and in Loch Etive, 

 Loch Creran, and Loch Feochan (principally at its 

 mouth). Farther south also. Loch Melfort, Loch 

 Killisport, and Loch Swin possess mussel scalps. 



An order for an oyster and mussel fishery in 

 Loch Creran was granted last year (1893) ^^ 

 Mrs. Ogilvie. 



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