Essex Mussel Distribution. 195 



frequently renew them. On " Bell's Hard," near the Yantlet, 

 and at Egypt Bay, mussels are of common occurrence. 



On the Essex side the Mucking Flats are here and there 

 good mussel ground. Some are found near the Chapman Light, 

 and also among the weeds and stones of the sea-wall, Canvey 

 Island. Leigh Bay and Swatchway to Southend, and the 

 whole foreshore of the latter, from earliest times have been 

 noted as rich, muddy, sandy, natural mussel areas. Indeed, in 

 former years at Southend mussel heaps bestrewed the shore, 

 and were quite a feature. In 1898, at the recommendation of 

 our colleague, Capt. Anderson,* the Town Council made a 

 clearance ; yet still they come, wherever there is the slightest 

 chance of object to fasten on. The original wooden pier, which 

 stood for some 60 years, prior to and at its demolishment, had 

 its seaward posts at their bottoms perfectly crammed with 

 them, for quite half-a-mile in length. When the pier was 

 removed (1894), and an iron one erected, its pillars, especially 

 those outside low-water mark, were very soon colonized and 

 covered with mussel brood and acorn barnacles innumerable. 

 At present the landing pier steps, as well as pillars up to 

 and beyond low-water mark, are everywhere carpetted and 

 festooned with mytiti of all ages and sizes, the young ones 

 packed in semi- solid, dense cushion masses. 



Between Southend and the Knock Buoy everywhere mussels 

 have asserted dominion over the oysters close by. On the 

 Shoebury Sands, in the pools created by the whirl of the tide 

 around wrecks, and target ranges, or other extraneous flotsam 

 and jetsam, the mussels gather in quantity. Clementine Grut, 

 near the Blacktail Spit, the inner part or " Land of Blacktail," 

 and other nooks inside the Swin, are favourite spots for them. 

 The Burnham river has been infested with mussels for long 

 years. In the Blackwater and Colne estuaries, avoiding 

 repetition, similar conditions to those of Thames and Medway 



* Report to the Corporation on the Foreshore Fishery, Oct., 1898. 



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