80 



1905 all the mussels were deposited there. In order to 

 protect the mussels as much as possible from ordinary 

 steamer traffic and fish trawling', they are laid on the 

 landward side of the hole. The mussels in the 

 " B-inghole " are practically always under water. At a 

 very low ebb a few may be exposed for a short time. They 

 are thus placed in reach of a continuous supply of food. 



The mussels transplanted to the " Ring-hole " in 1905 

 varied from one and five-eighths to one and seven-eighths 

 of an inch in length. During the months of May, June 

 and July the mussels all over the Northern Division grew 

 very slowly. At the end of August a marked advance 

 was recognisable in the condition of the transplanted 

 mussels. In September the new growth reached half-an- 

 inch. Early in Xovember the mussels had increased 

 five-eighths of an inch, and in December, or seven months 

 after removal, the average increase was found to be six- 

 eighths of an inch. In other Avords the mussels had 

 grown from about one and seven-eighths to two and five- 

 eighths of an inch — a result largely due to transplanting. 

 The mussels left on the original site had also grown during 

 the seven months. The majority left on the particular 

 beds that had been thinned in April were one and seven- 

 eighths of an inch long or one-eighth under legal size. 

 At the beginning of December they had only grown one- 

 quarter of an inch and had attained a length of two and 

 one-eighth inches, or an eighth of an inch above tlie 

 minimum legal size. The mussels taken to the 

 " Ringhole " had, therefore, advanced a nett half inch 

 more than those left untouched. Not only that, but the 

 fishermen receive one shilling per bag more for " Ring- 

 hole " mussels than they obtain for mussels taken from 

 Heysham Shears.* From November 18th to December 



* An ordinary bag of mussels, when sent to the markets, weighs 

 IJ cwts. 



