150 Part III. — Twenty -seventh Annual Report 



amounted to 33,307 cwts., the average being 2562 cwts. There was there- 

 fore a decrease of about 34 per cent. 



There was also a decrease on the West Coast, but less in proportion. 

 The aggregate quantity in the twenty-six years was 1,544,720 cwts., the 

 average per annum being 59,412 cwts. The quantity in the first period 

 amounted to 883,150 cwts., with an average of 67,935 cwts. ; in the 

 second period the quantity Avas 661,570 cwts., and the average 50,890 

 cwts., showing a decline of about 25 per cent. 



The detailed tables show that on the East Coast down to 1893 the 

 quantity of mussels landed was always over 120,000 cwts., and sometimes 

 over 200,000 cwts., a year. Since 1899 the quantity has not in any year 

 been much over 70,000 cwts., and sometimes but little over 60,000 cwts. 

 The decrease in the quantity of mussels has relation to the decline in line- 

 fishing, as the chief use of the mussel in Scotland is for bait. 



The proportions landed on the various coasts in the two periods are 

 indicated in the following figures : — 



1883-1895. 1896-1908. 



East Coast . 69"1 per cent. 63*4 per cent. 



Orkney and Shetland . . r6 „ 1'7 „ 



West Coast 29-1 „ 34-7 „ 



With regard to values, the total value during the twenty -six years was 

 £286,228, giving an average of £11,009 per annum. In the first thirteen 

 years of the period the total amounted to £181,298, the average being 

 £13,946 ; in the second period the total was £104,930, and the average 

 £8071. There was thus a decrease in the latter period of £76,368, or 

 about 42 per cent. The aggregate value on the East Coast was £203^903, 

 the annual average being £7842, and the decrease in the second period 

 amounted tc £72,881, or about 53 per cent. 



The aggregate value for Orkney and Shetland for the whole pei'iod was 

 only £6008, with an average of £231, and the decrease in the second 

 period amounted to £1516, or 40 per cent. On the West Coast the 

 aggregate value was £76,317, the average per annum being £2935, and 

 the decrease in the second period was £1971, or about 5 per cent. 



The value of mussels, like the value of oysters, has fallen ih the period 

 covered by the statistics so far as the East Coast and Scotland as a whole 

 are concerned, but on the West Coast their value has increased. This is 

 brought out in the following table showing the value, in shillings per cwt., 

 in quinquennial periods : — 



Clams. 



This shell-fish (Pecten) is used chiefly for bait, and, to a small extent, as 

 food. It is local in its distribution from the commercial point of view, by 

 far the greater quantity entered in the statistics having been taken from 

 the Firth of Forth ; small quantities are also got in the Clyde area. The 

 aggregate for the East Coast of Scotland in the twenty -six years .'> mounted 

 to 334,793 cwts., the annual average being 12,877 cwts. In the first 

 thirteen years the total was 208,600 cwts,, the average being 16,046 cwts. ; 



