SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 469 



One very notable change must be noted. In 1906 the 

 Heysham Skears extended over towards Yeoman Wharf, 

 and Grange Channel was then a comparatively narrow 

 strip of water. But during the last few years extensive 

 changes have taken place in the channels in the upper 

 part of Morecambe Bay between Grange and Morecambe. 

 The result has been that the spit forming the south-west 

 extremity of Lancaster Sands has been eroded away, 

 while material has accumulated on the Morecambe side, 

 encroaching on the channel between Lancaster Sands and 

 the mainland. Yeoman Wharf has also extended much 

 further to the east, so that "Low Skear " has become 

 sanded over. The result of all these changes is that the 

 ebb-tide stream setting down Grange Channel now runs 

 further to the east than it did in 1906, and a much 

 greater volume of water must flow over the Heysham 

 Skears. The dilution of the sewage flowing down from 

 Morecambe towards the Heysham Skears must therefore 

 be greater than it was. 



(3) The Fleetwood and Hambleton Beds (Chart III). 



The natural conditions here are fairly simple and 

 easily understood. There are three main mussel-bearing 

 areas in the estuary of the river Wyre : — (1) Seaward 

 from Knott-End Ferry, in the channel, and on the sides 

 of the adjacent banks; (2) in the bed of the river itself 

 between the Docks and the Fleetwood salt and ammonia 

 works ; and (3) in the bed of the river, and on the 

 foreshore at Hambleton, and extending from about 

 Wardley's Hotel for about three-quarters of a mile 

 seaward. The mussel beds (1) are of no economic 

 importance; those at (2) are often fished, mussels are 

 found on the banks, and also in the bottom of the river 

 on ground which does not come adry. These shell-fish 



