BUCCINUM. 351 



Appendix 



DISTRIBUTION AND ECONOMICS. 



The genus Buccinum is widely distributed in Arctic, 

 Antarctic and Temperate zones. The species Buccinum 

 undatuvi , Linn., occurs all around our coasts, from low- 

 water mark to 100 fathoms, and over a considerable area 

 extending from the Atlantic coast of North America to 

 the Siberian seas. The genus appeared first in the 

 Jurassic rocks, the species B. xmdatum occurring in the 

 Coralline Crag, since when it seems to have become 

 increasingly abundant in our seas. The Common 

 Whelk, B. tcndattim, is the most abundant species and 

 the most convenient to examine as a type of the genus. 

 It inhabits different kinds of ground, and several marked 

 varieties are to be found from tlie littoral zone to 

 considerable depths. There seems, however, to be little 

 agreement in regard to, or scientific classification of, 

 the varieties. 



Whelks are used at many of the fishing ports along 

 the coast as bait for the long lines. They are caught by 

 the Manx fishermen from banks of a shelly nature, about 

 IT to 20 fathoms deep, often near beds of the scallop 

 Pecten opercularis. The method employed is to sink 

 wicker baskets (crab or whelk pots) of the kind used for 

 capturing the edible crab, baiting them usually with the 

 latter animal. The crabs are used fresh, and are strung 



