SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 63 



still continued stormy, it was considered inadvisable to 

 attempt to re-stock the Bouchot at that time, but the 

 fishery officers at Piel who had assisted at the first 

 stocking were instructed to add a fresh supply of young 

 mussels at the first convenient opportunity. 



The experiment so far shows that it is possible to have 

 mussel Bouchots like those in France on the less exposed 

 parts of this coast, and that the mussels when put on 

 will readily attach themselves to the twigs. It now 

 remains to be seen, to what extent the spat produced 

 in the neighbourhood during the coming season will settle 

 down and remain upon the structure. A further point 

 that will then arise is the financial one — a comparison 

 between the results obtained and the cost. 



The Mussel Beds. 



The Roosebeck outer scar was visited on August 11th, 

 for the purpose of collecting mussels to put on the 

 Bouchot, and the opportunity was taken to note the 

 condition of the bed. 



The mussels, which were reported upon last year, were 

 found to be flourishing, and in good condition, measuring 

 on an average one and a quarter inch in length, that being 

 an increase of half an inch since last year. There is 

 every appearance of a valuable yield of shellfish from 

 this bed, at no very distant date, probably not more than 

 two years hence, as the conditions still seem to continue 

 favourable for a rapid growth. 



Owing to the insecure foundation of this bed, large 

 quantities of the mussels have been washed off into the 

 deeper water outside the scar, and it is here that a Bouchot 

 might be of considerable service, for there appears to be 

 no reason why mussels should not grow as rapidly on a 

 structure of this kind as on the soft mud of the bed and 



