SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 65 



The Baicliff Cockle Bed was visited and examined 

 during the low tides of October, but the week of stormy 

 weather which set in at that time interfered somewhat 

 with the work. However we were able to form a fair 

 estimate of the size of the bed and to observe the con- 

 ditions under which the cockles live. 



The shore here consists for the greater part of a flat 

 stretch of clean sand extending from Mort Point, right 

 on towards Bardsea and on the seaward side into the 

 water. The cockles grow and reproduce under the most 

 favourable conditions as there appears to be no lack of 

 food in the shape of diatoms and other vegetable matter, 

 which could be easily seen spread in golden patches all 

 over the sand, in the little hollows left by the retiring tide. 



The cockles on the bed are very numerous ; they are 

 in good condition, but of small size. The larger sizes 

 have now been almost entirely removed by the fishermen, 

 and the younger ones having not yet grown to maturity, 

 a very considerable number of them are therefore under 

 the regulation size. 



Lobsters. 



A small experimental tank has now been laid down at 

 Piel, for the purpose of ascertaining whether it would be 

 possible to keep lobsters in confinement and rear them 

 there. 



This tank measures 6 feet by 5 feet by 2 feet, and is 

 placed on the north side of the gutter that runs past the 

 end of the enbankment formed by the old pier. The tank 

 is held down in position by iron stakes, which are fixed 

 one at each of the four corners, but as these were 

 found to be insufficient for the purpose a number of large 

 stones had to be placed inside to keep the tank on the 

 bottom. These stones were afterwards found to be of 

 service in giving shelter to the lobsters. The tank is 



