90 MUSSEL CULTURE 



Both in Scotland and in Ireland the facilities for 

 individuals taking up the cultivation of the fore- 

 shores are greater than is the case in England^ 

 where, though the management and regulation is 

 vested in the various Fishery District Committees 

 (51 and 52 Vict. c. 54) an Appropriating Order 

 must still be obtained only with difficulty and at 

 considerable expense from the Board of Trade. 



With regard to the improvement of shell-fish 

 beds, the Fishery District Committees are power- 

 less if expenditure of money is necessary. Protec- 

 tion and regulation are possible, but improvement 

 by cultivation, or even transplanting, is beyond 

 the powers conferred by the Sea Fisheries Regula- 

 tion Act, 1888, in its present form. 



In Ireland, Inspectors of Fisheries have the 

 control in their own hands, and are empowered 

 (5 and 6 Vict. c. 106, § 13) 'to grant to any 

 owners or occupiers of land bordering on the sea^ 

 or any estuary, or to any person, with the consent 

 of such owner or occupier, licences for the forma- 

 tion of bait beds between high and low water 

 marks, and in all other places adjacent to their 

 respective portions of lands, as shall be suitable 

 for the purpose. Such beds to be held as private 

 property, and the licencees to hold exclusive 



