6 MUSSEL CULTURE 



has established her shell-fish fisheries on such a 

 sound, because thoroughly regulated, basis, that 

 confidence in the success of shell-fish culture has 

 been completely restored, while the industry has 

 risen to a position of great national importance. 

 In Scotland we have 43,000 people directly de- 

 riving a livelihood from sea-fishing, besides the 

 army of workers who carry on the business of 

 the fish trade on land. A few years ago there 

 were 50,000 fishermen and boys. We have seen 

 our public oyster fisheries slowly decline, and all 

 but expire. We now are watching our mussel 

 beds as they diminish in the same way. 



It is not the purpose of this little book to 

 advocate one particular line of action by which 

 the results of years of neglect may be at once left 

 behind by an advance towards an Elysium for 

 the supply of endless fishing lines, but if we can 

 show how the process of culture can be carried 

 on with success and pecuniary gain, we shall help 

 those who are at present struggling to build the 

 foundations upon which we may at length erect 

 a new fisherman's industry. 



The scarcity of mussels, and the consequent 

 increase in value now set upon mussel beds, can 

 be clearly appreciated from a statement made by 



