Distribution of Common Cockle. 207 



or Margate to Whitstable, besides the south side of the Isle 

 of Sheppey, all over which in places is the cockle to be 

 found at home. Or along Essex, e.g., the Maplins, Buxey, 

 Dengie Flats, and beyond the Naze towards Harwich, every- 

 where cockles can ~be got in fewer or greater quantities. 

 But the fact is that ordinarily the cockles lying hidden in the 

 sands precludes accuracy of their presence in the live con- 

 ditions, whilst here and there only is it sought for to be 

 disposed of as food locally in a limited way. On the other 

 hand, from the great cockling industry in the Thames estuary 

 it might be supposed there to be in greatest abundance. 



Quite truly where fresh mingles with the sea water, as in 

 the estuaries, there the cockles nourish, and become most 

 valuable commercially ; bat they are by no means restricted 

 to such places, or the drying sands, for they exist in the 

 deeper water. There profitable fishery, however, must 

 necessarily be under favourable circumstances of proximity to 

 market, &c. 



As Leigh is the chief centre of the cockling trade in our 

 District, consequently convenience necessitates the cocklers 

 searching for them in localities nearest home. The more 

 notable places for cocklers in the Thames then are Shoebury 

 Sands, and the Maplins, the sands facing Leigh and towards 

 Southend ; the Grain Spit and places in the vicinity of the 

 Spaniards, and the Gilman ; the Pollard and sands round the 

 east end of Sheppey. At rare intervals within the Swale 

 towards Elmley Ferry, and " the Hole," near Queenborough. 

 There are also small collections made at times by some of the 

 older men on Canvey Spit, Chapman Sands, and the Marsh- end 

 Sands, &c. 



Size, Numbers, Food. The largest cockles which have come 

 under our observation were brought from the Pollard (inside 

 the Columbine, Whitstable Bay). Taking one as a sample the 

 united shells of one dried after cooking its measurements were 

 If inches (over) transversely, and If inches long diameter, and 



