BELFAST DREDGING COMMITTEE. 295 
Species. Observations. 
1 LAMELLIBRANCHIATA, 
near the Copeland Islands in 14 fathoms, now nearly 
dredged out. This is the greatest depth at which 
Oysters are generally taken for sale, but Mr. Gray 
has known them brought up on the long lines from 
45 fathoms, of large size and good quality. Oysters 
generally prefer hard ground, that is, where stones 
and dead shells are to be found to which they can 
attach themselves ; they are of better quality on such 
ground than on mud. He has seen their spawn, but 
knows nothing of their age, nor how long they are 
in attaining their full size. The number of boats 
employed in dredging has diminished of late years, 
more owing, Mr. Gray thinks, to a falling off in price 
than to any scarcity of the Oysters, which are now 
imported in considerable quantitiesfrom Greencastle, 
Stranraer, and Whitehaven. The highest price he 
has known the fishermen to obtain was 21s. per 120. 
They are now down to 7s. for the best, and have 
been so low as 3s. when not of the best quality. 
No attempt has been made to establish artificial beds 
in Belfast Bay. 
Anomia ephippium ......| living |Common on oysters, scallops, and other shells at va- 
rious depths. Upper valves of large size are some- 
times found with laminaria attached. 
—— aculeata............++-| living |Not very common, on laminaria. 
— patelliformis .........| living |Frequent on shells from 10 to 20 fathoms. 
— Ss +eeseeeee| Gead |Common in shell sand from deep water. 
—— Striata ..............-| dead |Same as the last. 
Bracuiopopa. ACEPHALA 
| PaLLIoBRANCHIATA, 
| Terebratula caput ser-| living |Very rare. Recorded as having been taken by the Ord- 
ii pentis. nance Survey Collectors off White Head. Has not 
| occurred to any of us since within the Bay, although 
e found in deeper water outside. 
| — _ 4 4  «seeeeeee| dead |Rare, in shell sand from deep water. 
| Crania anomala............) dead |Rare, in shell sand from deep water, found living in the 
i! deep water north of the Bay. 
| Gasrrroropa Proso- 
“I BRANCHIATA. 
_ | Chiton fascicularis.........| living |] 
| —ruber........0000.0000.] living 
| — cinereus ........004. living| | netermined by the late W. Thompson, E a 
| ——asellus .s.....+0e0+e0.| living GEE get il gl aa pon, Esq.) au 
BIT cecncnsac-oxeseo-o| LVIDE L published in his Report under the names by which 
Pe eeiiias .....), "| living they were then known. 
| —— levis .......00....000e| living 
? —— marmoreus .........| living 
| Patella vulgata ............| living |Common on rocks and stones between tide marks. 
: Within the Bay they are not much sought after as 
4: food; but at Groomsport Mr. Gray informs me they 
are so used, and also as bait for Codling. Captain 
White, Harbour Master, tells me that they are found 
to be good for eating and wholesome on the outer 
coast of County Down, but that in Strangford Lough 
they are found not to be wholesome, and are avoided 
pe? by the people there. 
— pellucida seseesseeeee| living {Common, burrowingintothestems of Laminariadigitata. 
. oe Intheyoungstate onthe leavesofthesame plant. The 
ae thin variety seems only to be found on rocky shores. 
