12 
During the first week of September, 1918, I was able to visit Grand Manan 
Island, Bay of Fundy, to investigate the mussel beds there. Owing to stormy 
weather at the end of that week it was only possible to make trips on September 
3rd and 4th so that only a small portion of the coast was investigated. Through 
the co-operation of Inspector Calder of Welchpool, Campobello Island, New 
Brunswick, the use of the patrol boat ‘‘G” of Grand Manan was granted for 
these investigations. I am much ‘ndebted to Captain Green and the other 
members of the crew of the ‘““G” for their kindness and assistance during the 
trips. e 
The North-western coast of Grand Manan is very rocky and bare, the rock 
rising sheer out of the water for a considerable height. Such a location is very 
untavourable for mussels so that it is unlikely that any beds occur there. On 
the eastern and southern coasts, however, extensive shoals occur and con- 
sequently along these coasts I expected to find mussel beds. 
At Seal Cove, where I made my headquarters, no mussels were found. 
The shore there is sandy and so wave beaten as to afford a poor anchorage for 
mussels. 
The first trip made was to Cheynne Passage, between Ross Island and 
Cheynne Island, where a ‘arge mussel bed had been reported. A bed of large 
mussels was found there extending across the channel as indicated in Chart 3. 
The mussels were found growing among the sea weeds (kelp, dulce and sea- 
lettuce). Many dead shells (frequently 5 cm. or more in length) were found 
among the living shells. The larger mussels grew in the deeper water while at 
the upper limits of the bed the mussels were smaller, as is usual. Horse mussels 
(Modiola modiolus) were found in the deeper parts of the channel. They were 
of a good size but were exceedingly difficult to procure as they attach themselves 
very firmly and frequently wedge themselves between rocks. In the shallow 
water the mussels were practically all sea mussels (Mytilus edulis). Only one 
starfish was seen in the neighbourhood of the beds, but large numbers of sea- 
urchins were observed in the deeper portions of the channel. 
Another bed (known in this paper as the White Head bed) was found on the 
western side of the shoal between Cheynne Island and White Head Island. 
Here the bottom appeared the same as at Cheynne passage, with similar sea- 
weeds, but the mussels proved smaller (Table III) and less abundant. The 
number growing in the deeper water was noticeably less than in Cheynne passage. 
Great numbers of gulls were observed idling about. They are reported to feed 
on the mussels of this region, it being said that they fly up with the mussels, 
drop them on the rocks, thus breaking the shell, and then devour the contents. 
The shore and bar off Redhead (Chart 3) was examined but no sea-mussels 
were observed. ; 
Two bars off the eastern coast of Wood Island (Chart 3) were examined but 
no mussels were found’ on either. The bottom was of fine and coarse gravel. 
It is said that a few years ago mussels grew abundantly on these bars. Under 
the gravel a layer of fine black mud was found which suggested ‘‘mussel mud.” 
One portion of one bar shifts during heavy storms so it seems possible that the 
beds reported to have been there may have been destroyed by the bottom 
shifting. 
26 
