SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. l87 



REPORT ON THE EXAMINATION OF THE 

 MUSSEL BEDS IN THE ESTUARY OF THE 

 WTRE WITH REFERENCE TO THEIR 

 LIABILITY TO CONTAMINATION BY 

 SEWAGE. 



By James Johnstone, B.Sc. 



Early in the present year (1911) Dr. Jenkins 

 received a communication from the Medical Officer of 

 Health of an inland town with reference to a consign- 

 ment of mussels said to have been sent from the Estuary 

 of the Wyre. A bacteriological examination of these 

 shell-fish had been made, and it was stated that the 

 analysis gave evidence of an undesirable degree of 

 pollution by sewage bacteria. In consequence of this 

 report Dr. Jenkins suggested to me that it would be 

 desirable to make an inspection of the condition of the 

 mussel beds in the Wyre area ; all the more so since 

 those shell-fish have not been examined since the former 

 sewerage system of Fleetwood was replaced by that now 

 in operation. I accordingly made three visits to the 

 Wyre Estuary — on 9th February, 22nd February, and 

 9th March— and collected samples for examination on 

 the two latter occasions. I also received a further 

 sample of mussels on April 29th from Mr. John Wright, 

 who collected the shell-fish according to instructions. 



I have much pleasure in acknowledging the 

 assistance and co-operation of Mr. T. R. Bailey, the 

 Port Sanitary Inspector, who accompanied me and 

 Mr. J. Wright on each of our visits of inspection. The 

 sketch chart of the sewage outfalls reproduced here has 

 been marked by Mr. Bailey from the Surveyor's plans. 



