49 



Taylor's Bank (between Eormby and Crosby Channels in the 

 Mersey Estuary) where cockles made their first appearance 

 about five years ago, and these cockles grew in about two years 

 to a marketable size ; the fishermen, however, rapidly fished 

 them out of existence. Subsequently another small bed formed, 

 the last cockles from which were taken last year. It would 

 appear then that the present depression in Morecambe Bay 

 must not be regarded as permanent. As to the measures that 

 might be taken to expedite their return to a maximum of pro- 

 ductivity, a few suggestions are made below. 



It would appear that some reason or reasons must be 

 found for the persistent complaints received from the North 

 Lancashire cockle beds. From a personal visit to these beds 

 one is forced to agree with statements made in previous reports 

 as to the destructive action of the gulls, taken into conjunction 

 with the use of the "jumbo." The " jumbo " brings up to the 

 surface all manner of cockles — marketable and undersized. 

 The latter are left on the surface of the sand, only to be 

 devoured by the gulls, which frequent the northern sands in 

 enormous numbers. The excreta of these gulls is noticeably 

 composed to a very large extent of comminuted fragments of 

 cockle shells. I am endeavouring to get specimens of the 

 common grey gull in order to examine the contents of the crop 

 and stomach. The close time for gulls (except the black- 

 backed gull) is under the Wild Birds Protection Acts, 1880 to 

 1902, from the 2nd March to the 31st July, both inclusive; 

 but, on the application of Local Authorities, the Secretary of 

 State in England and Wales has power to vary or abolish the 

 close time for any bird or birds in any county by Order, to be 

 published in the Gazette. 



The breeding places of gulls on the Lancashire coast are 

 shown on the accompanying chart. 



In the Southern Districts, where the "jumbo" is unknown 

 and gulls are not so common, we do not hear of these complaints. 



