80 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
time the report was published was about 72,000. It is now 
fully 100,000. The main sewer outfall discharges on the fore- 
shore some distance above the bed, and under certain conditions 
the mussels may be contaminated by the crude sewage. I 
understand. arrangements are now being made to hold a public 
inquiry under the Public Health Shell-fish (Regulations) 1915, 
No. 125, at Barrow, and notices will be sent to all mterested 
parties. The bed is at present well stocked with mussels which 
look to the naked eye in good condition. It is to be hoped that 
some plan will be adopted so that these mussels can be trans- 
planted and rendered free from suspicion, as there was a large 
demand forthem. There are areas not far from the bed where 
the topographical conditions seem favourable for the establish- 
ment of a cleaning tank similar to those at Aberdovey and 
Barmouth. It might be possible to get this done during the 
coming summer and have it in working order early in the next 
mussel season. | 
VI. Tar PERIWINKLE FISHERY. 
This is one of the minor inshore fisheries of the Lancashire 
and Western Sea Fisheries District which appears to be capable 
of further development in the future. At the present moment 
it is suffering, in common with many other industries, from the 
depletion of its fishermen, and its valueis much reduced. The 
majority of the men formerly engaged in periwinkle fishing 
have found employment in various large works, and there is a 
marked reduction in the quantity sent to the market now 
compared with pre-war figures. The fishery is carried on in 
only a few districts in the area where the conditions between 
tide marks are favourable. It is essential that the shore should 
be fairly rough with a plentiful supply of growimg sea-weed. 
The periwinkle is a vegetarian and feeds upon the weed. 
The small boulders provide a firm foothold and shelter against 
