250 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



as to the destructive action of the gulls. The chart shows 

 three gulleries, viz., The South End of Walney Island, 

 Cockerham and Wyresdale. Mr. Fowler informs me that 

 he knows of three additional places, viz., Ravenglass, and 

 the two on Holker Mosses. 



If the noteworthy decrease in the value of the shell- 

 fish industry had been limited to Flookburgh, one would 

 have had no difficulty in coming to the conclusion that 

 gulls were mainly responsible for it. Unfortunately, 

 however, on comparing the money value of the shell-fish 

 landed at the Lancashire ports during the last four years, 

 as given in the December reports drawn up for the Com- 

 mittee, one finds that there has been a general decrease in 

 the money value of the Lancashire shell-fish industry from 

 1908. The value of the shell-fish landed at the Lancashire 

 ports in 1907 showed a net increase of £5,117, compared 

 with the value in 1906. This gain was made up by an 

 increase of £2,645 at Morecambe, and £1,558 at Cark. 

 Southport, Fleetwood and the Lune Estuary contributed 

 practically the remainder of the gain. The money value in 

 1908 showed a net decrease of £4,098. The loss of fully 

 half of this sum occurred at Southport. Lytham, Fleet- 

 wood, Morecambe and Cark divided the remainder of the 

 loss. In 1909 a further net decrease of £4,447 took place., 

 Morecambe suffered to the extent of £2,158. Cark and 

 Southport lost practically £1,382 each. Out of the nine 

 Lancashire ports only two showed any increase over 1908. 

 Fleetwood improved by £917 and Barrow District by £99. 

 The general decrease in the money value of the Lancashire 

 shell-fish industry especially during 1909 is not due 

 entirely to the destruction brought about by gulls. 



All shell-nsh beds have many natural enemies. Plaice 

 and flounders feed vigorously upon small mussels and 

 cockles. We generally find when flat fish are plentiful 



