SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 257 



The enteritidis reaction was observed only in 

 dilutions I. and II. 



The mussels present on the Wallasey mussel bed are, 

 therefore, polluted by sewage, though the degree of 

 pollution is far less than in the cases of the Egremont and 

 Rock Ferry mussels. 



III. The Mussel Beds in the Lune Estuary. 



The mussel beds in the estuary of the Lune are of 

 comparatively little commercial importance ; the salmon 

 fishery in this arm of the sea is of immensely greater 

 value. In 1902, however, petitions were presented to the 

 Lancashire County Council by the Conservators of the 

 Lune, Wyre, Keer and Cocker fresh water fisheries, and 

 also by fishermen from the areas round the mouth of the 

 Lune, complaining of the polluted state of the water in 

 the river. It was claimed that there was deterioration 

 of the salmon fishery, and that the health of those engaged 

 in fishing in the river, and the public health generally, 

 was likely to suffer in consequence of the increasing con- 

 tamination of the tidal waters of the Lune estuary by the 

 crude sewage of the town of Lancaster. An exhaustive 

 inquiry into the whole question of the pollution of the 

 river was, therefore, made by Dr. Sergeant, Medical Officer 

 for the administrative County of Lancaster, and a report 

 on the subject was presented to the County Council in 

 April, 1904. The topographical conditions were studied 

 by Dr. Sergeant, and chemical analyses of samples of 

 water from various parts of the river were made by Mr. 

 Halliwell, of the Ribble Watershed Department. The 

 late Mr. Dawson and Mr. A. Scott also made an inspection 

 of the mussel beds at the mouth of the estuary, and Mr. 

 Scott came to the conclusion that there were abundant 

 local evidences on the ground of sewage contamination. 



