lO MUSSEL CULTURE 



but is much more local in its habitat, not gene- 

 rally to be found left uncovered by even the 

 lowest tide, and never present in the brackish 

 water of river-mouths where fishing harbours are 

 commonly situated. 



A bait probably superior to either mussel or 

 clam is ink-fish [cephalopods). It is a rare and 

 expensive bait, being procured almost exclusively 

 by means of the beam-trawl. A box of ink-fish 

 is sometimes sold for bait at as high a figure as 

 from £i to £^. Half this price may be taken as 

 prohibitive to such fishermen as are entirely de- 

 pendent on their own resources. 



Other common baits are lug-worm, herring, 

 whelk, cockle, limpet, etc., but for the line fisher- 

 men of Scotland the mussel has advantages 

 which secure for it the premier position. The 

 extensive stretches of natural mussel grounds, the 

 extreme suitability of environment and climate 

 to the successful growth of the mollusc, the ease 

 with which it can be procured and handled, 

 coupled with its most excellent attractive qualities, 

 place it at once as the most important of all baits. 

 It has been in common use since time immemorial, 

 and has lasted most wonderfully, considering the 

 carelessness with which its growth has been re- 



