BAITS, AND SEA-FISHING 117 



Or the spat may settle in some eddy, where they 

 are constantly covered, sheltered, and fed. 



The whole range of mussel culture lies between 

 these extremes, and the secret of success consists 

 in varying the less or more favourable conditions. 

 After a time, the mussels are removed from the 

 exposed banks to those of a lower level. And 

 finally, they are placed in some quiet site in the 

 bed of the stream, where they pass through the 

 later stages with great rapidity. 



When ready for use, they are brought to the 

 surface with a formidable-looking rake, set with 

 sharp teeth, and worked by a handle, varying in 

 length according to the depth of the water. This 

 rake is pulled through the scalp by a series of jerks, 

 and raised to the surface with the clumps of mussels 

 sticking between the prongs. I speak of the 

 system pursued here ; but should the handle prove 

 unworkably long, as on the Tay, a dredge is 

 dropped down instead. 



The natural bed is still used in Scotland. The 

 raised wattling, wherever adopted, has not as yet 

 proved very successful. It is only a matter of time, 

 until the silting of the estuary buries the whole 

 structure. Very little more than the tops of the 

 piles, represent an expensive experiment here. 



