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had batches of newly hatched Shrimps in our glass jars, 
which were kept alive until the temporary laboratory had 
to be dismantled. One of the Shrimps on completion of 
the hatching out of the larve, cast its shell; both the 
shell and the animal were preserved, and are now in the 
Fisheries Collection at Liverpool. 
“‘ Karly in February the bailiffs noticed that the rough 
ground between tide marks eastwards from Foulney was 
covered with young Mussels, and after my arrival I 
visited the various places pointed out, and found that 
everything was covered with the young shell-fish, the 
sizes of which varied from one-sixteenth of an inch to 
one-quarter of an inch. Whether these young Mussels 
are the result of the previous summer’s spawning or not 
is at present difficult to say, as the rate of growth of this 
shell-fish depends a great deal upon its surroundings, 
food supply, &c., matters which can only be found out 
after lengthened investigation of any particular bed. 
Although numerous samples collected from the different 
Mussel beds in the neighbourhood were examined, no 
spawning shell-fish were found. The Cockle beds were 
also examined for spawning Cockles, but none could be 
discovered. 
‘““Now that the Piel Marine Laboratory is completed 
and in working order, a close examination of the various 
shell-fish beds in the neighbourhood will be kept up 
throughout the year: (1) by weekly examinations of the 
shell-fish themselves for approaching maturity and time 
of spawning, and (2) by frequent tow-nettings in the 
vicinity of the beds for the free swimming larve. 
“During the spring tides of March Mr. Richardson, 
one of the bailiffs, secured a ‘berried’ Lobster, which 
had been taken on the scar referred to in last year’s 
Report, and brought it to the laboratory, where it was 
