254 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
interval between 1877 and 1899; that is, in 1877 the 
weight of cockles taken from the whole Bay was 
approximately 3,940 tons, in the year 1898—99, considered 
in this Report, it was 3,240, the difference being approxi- 
mately equal to the decrease in the produce of the beds 
on the southern side of the Bay. But the irregular 
nature of the fishing here has been already commented 
on, and it is fair to conclude that the decrease is only a 
temporary one. 
In this comparison the change in the conditions of the 
fishery must be borne in mind. In 1877 the fishing was 
not regulated in any way, and cockles of any size might 
be sent into the markets, but at the present time, only 
cockles having the minimum breadth of three-quarter 
inch are allowed to be landed and consequently sent 
over rail, so that on the areas compared, cockles must 
now be more abundant than in 1877. 
On the whole, it does not appear that there has been 
any permanent decrease in the cockle fishery of More- 
cambe Bay proper. Fluctuations from year to year have 
been experienced, and it may be gleaned from the Board 
of Trade Statistical Tables that though there have been 
some lean years, such as 1895—96, others—such as 1897 
—have been correspondingly fat, and that, on the whole, 
the fishing has been, if anything, improving. It has not 
been possible to investigate the rest of the District to the 
same extent, but it may be safely assumed that there also, 
the yield of the beds has been, on the whole, maintained. 
The Commissioners of 1879, as the result of their in- 
quiries, stated that they had ‘‘ been unable to trace any 
decrease in the fishery.’ So far as the data obtained in 
the course of the present investigation go, that statement 
may be safely repeated. 
— 
ts =e. 
