SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 493 



recent analyses of these mussels, but none is necessary, 

 as the natural conditions under which they live are such 

 as to provide condemnation. 



6. The Conishead Priory Bed. 



Here, also, we need not hesitate in giving an 

 opinion. The Ulverston sewer threatens this bed so 

 formidably, as Dr. Bulstrode has reported, that it is 

 impossible to describe it as free from dangerous 

 contamination. Or at least one may say that the 

 conditions are such that the bed may at any time become 

 infected; since the sewer outfall is only a short distance 

 away, and the nature of the channel is such that dilute 

 sewage cannot fail to flow over the shell-fish at the time 

 when the depth of water on the scar is least. The 

 bacteriological results (p. 482) do not indicate a high 

 degree of contamination, and, so far as I know, 

 epidemiological evidence is quite absent. Nevertheless, 

 the situations of the sewer and scar are such as to justify 

 us in disregarding these kinds of evidence entirely. 



General Conclusions. 



This Report cannot, of course, be regarded as final. 

 All the inspections and analyses referred to were also 

 made several years ago, but they were no less necessary 

 in 1912, for the conditions in many cases had changed. 

 There can be no doubt that the supervision and investiga- 

 tion of natural, public shell-fish beds ought to be the 

 task of an authority, or officers, dealing with this work 

 alone, and always. It is not only the public health 

 interests that should dictate this policy, but also the 



