CHAPTER III 



THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE MUSSEL, AND 

 THE TREATMENT OF BAIT SCALPS. 



A KNOWLEDGE of the structure and life-history 

 of the mussel is necessary before the practice 

 of mussel culture can be carried on to the best 

 advantage. 



Such points as the following should especially 

 be attended to : — 



{a) The conditions most favourable to the 

 growth and increase of the mussel. 



{b) Conditions adverse to growth and increase. 



{c) The time and the manner of spawning. 



{d) The rate and variations of growth under 

 certain conditions. 



After a treatment of these points, the more 

 practical questions of the cropping of beds and 



