126 



successful. 'J'lio clams are preferred most in winter and 

 least in summer, when they soon die. Since the shell 

 valves do not fit closely, as already pointed out, Pecten 

 cannot stand as nuich exposure to the air as most of our 

 edible molluscs, and this will always be a difficulty in 

 transporting- to the markets. 



Pecten have been put to a most interesting use at the 

 large trout hatchery of Howietown, near Stirling. The 

 breeding trout in their fifth ^'ear are fed with more 

 mussels and less horse flesh, and in the sixth year clams 

 (Pecten) are substituted for mussels. It is found that the 

 O'va from trout of six to eight years of age liaA^e a pink 

 colour when the fish are fed on clams. Trout thus fed on 

 clams yield the smallest number, proportionately, of eggs, 

 but these are of the largest size and darkest colour, and 

 these have been found to be the most valuable ova for 

 rearing purposes. 



There seems to be no reason why the scallop should 

 not become much more important as a source of food, and 

 it is eaten both raw and cooked by those on the Wishing 

 grounds and a few others who are aware of the delicacy 

 of its flavour. It has a peculiarly sweet taste, w-hich is 

 preferred by some to that of the oyster. At Billingsgate, 

 Pecten maa'imus^ (known in the trade as " Escallops ") are 

 not marketed in summer. The season begins in November 

 and continues until March, and generally the demand 

 appears to exceed the supply. During the winter season 

 of 1907-08 the supplies were the lightest for years, with 

 prices, perhaps, the highest ever reached. ^^Tiolesale 

 prices averaged from 25s. to 45s. per bag of twenty dozen. 

 In the Liverpool Fish Market, the season is practically 

 the same as at Billingsgate, viz., from November to Mav, 

 and December is the heaviest month. The average 

 number of scallops is about five hundred each Aveek, and 



