410 MUSSEL-CULTURE. [CHAP. ix. 



never very plentiful, and it would be a very good plan to try 

 the system of culture on hurdles which has been found so suc- 

 cessful for the growth of the edible mussel of the Bay of 

 Aiguillon, to be now described. 



Considering the importance attached by fishermen to the 

 easy attainment of a cheap supply of bait, it is surprising 

 that no attempt has been made in this country to economise 

 and regulate the various mussel-beds which abound on the 

 Scottish and English coasts. The mussel is very largely used 

 for bait, and fishermen have to go far, and pay dear, for what 

 they require their wives and families being also employed 

 to gather as many as they can possibly procure on the acces- 

 sible places of the coast, but usually the bait has to be pur- 

 chased and carried from long distances. I propose to show 

 our fisher-people how these matters are managed in France, 

 and how they may obviate the labour and expense connected 

 with bait buying or gathering, by growing such a crop of 

 mussels as would not only suffice for an abundant supply of 

 bait, but produce a large quantity for sale as well. 



Mussel-culture has been carried on with immense success 

 on a certain part of the coast of France for a period of no less 

 than seven centuries ! So long ago as the year of grace 1135 

 an Irish barque was wrecked in the Bay of Aiguillon. The 

 cargo and one of the crew were saved by the humanity of the 

 fishermen inhabiting the coast. The name of the one man 

 who was thus saved from shipwreck was Walton, and he 

 gave to the people, in gratitude for saving his life, the germ 

 of a marvellous fish-breeding idea. He invented artificial 



the knife will glide over the surface without making any impression, it 

 being glass, and a real pearl will not be injured by a gentle hand. 

 Pieces of shells are, however, extensively used and sold as pearls. They 

 are cut into shapes closely resembling half pearls, and mounted in vari- 

 ous ways, so that many professed judges have been deceived. These are 

 easily to be distinguished by their iridescent lustre from the true pearl, 

 which has but one distinct tint. 



