SEA FISHERIES LABORATORY. IBi7/ 
cut off in the early embryonic stages. Still there is prob- 
ably quite a sufficient supply of young each year to keep 
up our very valuable cockle beds if we act with ordinary 
prudence and common sense in regulating the fishing, and 
taking care of the young animals. Biological knowledge 
of the life of the animal suggests that cockles should not 
be taken from the beds until they are quite adult and of 
full size—about an inch in length; that the beds should 
be as little disturbed as possible; that the younger ones 
should as far as possible not be removed from the sand, 
and if young and old have to be collected together they 
should not be taken away to be riddled or sorted out else- 
where, or if riddled on the spot the young which pass 
through the riddle should not be left in a heap, as in these 
cases the majority of the young will probably die. The 
fishermen ought to be careful to leave the young ones 
he rejects in such a situation that they can readily regain 
their former position in the sand and live on uninjured. 
We must remember that the object of any regulations 
should be, not merely that the young cockles should not 
appear in the market, but that they should not leave their 
homes. 
THE MUSSEL. 
The Mussel requires still more attention than the 
cockle, because it is not protected by sand and because it 
requires something to hold on to; and I am persuaded 
that much could be done in this neighbourhood in the way 
of Mussel culture. Many parts of our shores, especially 
up the estuaries, seem well fitted for the growth of mussel 
beds if there was anything—such as stakes and wattling— 
for the young mussels to attach themselves to. The 
supply of embryonic mussels every year is abundant. 
At Hilbre Island and Caldy Blacks and other places in 
