the mussels are gathered by hand. The mussels are matted 

 together and form wave-like undulations on a soft, slimy 

 mud— in some places 18 inches deep. When the bed was 

 visited in the hot weather of the summer, it had a most 

 offensive smell, not unlike that of a cesspit. This was not 

 noticed on this second visit in November, and the bed Avas 

 much cleaner, probably as a result of abnormally high spring 

 tides and much rainy weather. These physical conditions Avill 

 probably tend to minimise the pollution of the mussels. The 

 greatest contribution to the j)ollution may be expected from 

 the Lytham and Ansdell outfalls, which are situated about a 

 mile and a quarter to the N.W. from the centre of the bed. 

 There are two outfalls about ten yards apart, and these convey 

 practically all the sewage of Ansdell and Lytham. The 

 effluent is quite untreated, and contained much paper and 

 faeces. The direction of flow at low Avater is in a south- 

 easterly direction towards Church Scar bed. About 300 

 yards away, however, it tended to flow south, and was lost 

 in the innumerable channels on the sand bank. Thus, the 

 effluent does not actually flow over the bed. The ebb stream 

 itself, however, ebbs mainly in the direction of and over the 

 westerly end of the mussel bed, so that it is reasonable to 

 suppose that towards the end of the ebb the bed is extremely 

 liable to pollution. Another probable source of temporary 

 pollution, although perhaps not great, is a large barge which 

 is permanently moored over the bed, and which grounds at 

 low water. This barge is fitted to accommodate gangs of 

 workmen for varying periods, so that here is a pollution 

 actually on the bed. 



Training Wall. Gas Buoy No. 2. 131 miles from Preston 

 Docks. 



This point is on the Northern Wall, about two or three 

 feet above the level of dead low water at ordinary spring 



