MUSSELS FOR MEN AND FISHES. 263 



Now, for this state of matters so directly injurious 

 to the hardy race of fishermen, their wives and daugh- 

 ters, and indirectly to the public by raising the price of 

 fish there is a remedy. Pisciculture, so rich in pro- 

 mise to the epicure fond of luscious oysters, comes to 

 the aid of the humble fisherman likewise, and by mul- 

 tiplying mussels will ease the back of many a " Maggie 

 Mucklebacket," so far as the gathering of bait is con- 

 cerned, though doubtless, to the mutual benefit of all 

 parties, it will enable her amphibious husband to pro- 

 secute his calling more regularly, and thus be the means 

 of throwing a heavier load on her willing shoulders, in 

 the form of " creels " brimming with " caller haddies." 



We trust that those interested in the prosperity of 

 our fishing villages will have the benevolence to tell 

 their inhabitants that their women need not wretchedly 

 toil for bait, and that the gains of the men should no 

 longer be diminished by the purchase at a distance 

 of what may inexpensively be multiplied indefinitely at 

 their doors. Mussels, in short, as food for those who 

 like them be they men or fishes may be made to 

 propagate where we can lay our hands upon them 

 whenever we choose ; so that fishwives need no longer 

 be bedraggled, toil-worn gatherers of this kind of bait, 

 nor need the fishermen of our eastern coast be indebted 

 to those of the western for the means of pursuing their 

 piscatory labours. 



Mussels seem to be more in repute in France than in 



* ' The whole of the mussels used for bait in this quarter is brought 

 from the Clyde. The price of the bushel-basket was formerly Is. 

 per basket at the Eden, and this has now been raised to Is. 9d. per 

 basket. The cost to each man per annum for bait was formerly 

 about 4. 



"The mussels found in the Clyde are substantially free to every- 

 one. The dredging for them costs about 10s. 6d. per ton; the 

 carriage per rail to Arbroath 15s. per ton, or about Is. 2d. per 

 bushel-basket. In a ton of mussels there are about 24 bushel- 

 baskets. A boat could bring from the Eden from 60 to 80 baskets. 



" The Clyde mussels are now sent as far as the Moray Firth ! " 



