SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 225 



31st, 262 tons have been recovered. t A hundred average 

 sized mussels taken from the Heysham Skears in December 

 weighed two pounds, and an ordinary bag will contain 

 about 7,000 mussels. A hundred mussels from the 

 " Ringhole " in December weighed five pounds, or 2,800 

 mussels to the bag. The transplanting had thus increased 

 the bulk two and a half times. The original quantity 

 transplanted was 4,634, which multiplied by two and a 

 half becomes converted into 11,585 bags. Each of these 

 bags has improved one shilling in actual money value 

 above the mussels that have reached a legal size on the 

 original site during the interval. This represents a sum 

 of £579 for transplanted mussels. So that for the expen- 

 diture of £75 in April in removing mussels from Heysham 

 to the " Ringhole " there is a nett gain of over £500. The 

 enhanced value of the fishery, however does not end there. 

 It has to be remembered that the thinning of the 'original 

 beds had led to an improvement in the condition of the 

 mussels that were left, and more mussels have become 

 marketable than could have been possible under the old 

 state of affairs. Taking the fishery all through, we find 

 that there are more marketable mussels to meet the 

 demand and a greater employment for fishermen than 

 formerly. They can now work from their own homes 

 instead of visiting other areas for their supplies. A few 

 years ago, owing to the scarcity of legal sized mussels, 

 some of the men had to reside at Piel and fulfil their 

 orders with mussels from Roosebeck Outer Skear. Taking 

 all things into consideration and allowing for loss from 

 various causes, both in the " Ringhole " and on the 

 thinned beds, since the middle of April, 1905, we venture 

 to state that the money value of the Morecambe mussels 



fBy the end of February, 1906, a much greater quantity of 

 mussels was taken out than had originally been put in. 



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