146 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
being completed at Conway by the Corporation and the 
Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, could not be pro- 
jected. On the whole, the best means of dealing with the 
problem might have been to centralise it. It would have 
been possible to erect tanks on some part of the coast 
between Harlech and Aberystwyth capable of dealing 
_ with all the mussels taken in Cardigan Bay. The shellfish 
could have been bought from the fishermen, treated in 
the tanks, certified and put on the market. After deduction 
of working and depreciation expenses, a bonus on each 
season’s profits could have been declared and paid to all 
fishermen taking out licences under the Order in pro- 
portion to the total quantity of mussels gathered by them 
and sent to the ‘“‘sanatorium.’’ ‘There are, of course, 
different qualities of mussels, obtaining different prices, 
but this difficulty could easily be provided for. This 
method of dealing with the Cardigan Bay mussel fisheries 
might have been, taking a broad view of the question, the 
best means, I think, of dealing with it. It may be 
impracticable at the present time, but I suggest it here 
so that it may yet be considered after the preliminary 
steps now being taken are tested. By adopting such a 
plan, working expenses might be centralised and 
diminished, and the best natural situation for the tanks 
could be fixed upon apart from other considerations. 
The open coast of Cardigan Bay is bathed by water of 
exceptional freedom from sewage pollution. There 
would be no necessity to sterilise the water flowing into 
the tanks by treatment with chemicals. It must be 
noted that a shellfish is cleansed from sewage bacteria 
by a process of washing-out. Sterile sea-water is taken 
into the shell cavity and alimentary canal and removes 
the bacteria as it flows out again, and so long as this 
circulating water is sterile no further contamination can 
take place. 
