SHEA FISHERIES LABORATORY. 105 
Cheshire) the shores are sandy, and the in-shore waters 
are for the most part sandy and shallow, extensive sand 
banks abounding especially off the estuaries of the Mersey, 
the Dee, the Ribble, and in Morecambe Bay. Altogether 
it may be estimated that there is an area of about 800 
square miles lying off the coast over which the depth is 
less than 10 fms., and an area beyond that of about 1000 
square miles where the depth is from 10 to 20 fms. These 
shallow sandy bays, and channels between the banks, are 
probably of the very greatest importance as the feeding 
grounds and nurseries of our most valuable food fishes in 
their post-larval and immature stages; and I would urge 
that during the coming year an accurate survey should be 
made of these areas and a determination of their physical 
conditions and theirfaunaand flora. There are four impor- 
tant estuaries in the district, that of the Kent and the Leven 
conjoined at the northern end of Morecambe Bay, that of 
the Ribble at Preston, the Mersey at Liverpool, and the 
Dee between Cheshire and Wales at the southern end of 
the district. Some parts of the shores of these estuaries 
are already of value as cockle and mussel beds, but probably 
a great deal more use could be made of them as suitable 
erounds for edible Mollusca. Mussel culture shouid be 
started, Oyster culture might be worth trying in the 
estuary of the Dee, and Shrimp culture should be experi- 
mented on in some sheltered spot where an enclosure 
could be made of stakes and rough wattling. 
THE “Fauna” oF THE DISTRICT. 
The marine fauna and flora of this district, which are 
matters of the greatest importance in connection with the 
feeding of fish and edible Mollusca, have been systemati- 
cally investigated for some years back by the Liverpool 
Marine Biology Committee. These investigations have 
