44 
applicable to little fish-ponds, or small gardens, do not 
apply in the ocean, though the sea-fishery officers do not 
seem able to divest themselves of their petty ideas. If 
the cocklers are left alone, no more cockles will be taken 
than Nature can afford, for when it does not pay to get 
them, cocklers will obey the laws of Nature and cease to 
waste their time; but I feel sure if there was demand, the 
beds would yield a still larger harvest. 
So much for cockles. Let us try to see how the 
mussels are affected. But before dealing with them I 
should like to diverge a little, for, connected with this part 
of the subject is an interesting phenomenon that occurred 
‘some years since, and one which is occurring now, which 
I should like to mention. Also I-think something could 
be done with the mussels, but not on the Fishery Board 
lines. It is protection, not prosecution, that is required 
in this case. | 
The cry of damage to the fisheries by over-fishing is as 
old as the hills, and will, I expect, always continue. For 
some reasons not as yet understood, but which there is 
little doubt are as much beyond the control of man as the 
ocean itself, fisheries ebb and flow very much indeed ; 
for this reason a mere increase or decrease of crop is no 
proof of success or failure of any human laws. When- 
ever the ebb comes, the cry is over-fishing, destruction of 
fry occ. until the flood comes again, when everybody is so 
