378 



Appendices to Fifth Annual Report 



In the island of Eousay, the salt water loch of Scockness covering 

 somewhat more than 4 acres, is a place well fitted for oyster culture. 

 It is separated from the sea beach by a ridge of rocks, but every flood-tide 

 pours salt water into it through an opening in the rocks ; and at low 

 water a narrow stream flows from the loch into the sea. A small burn of 

 fresh water rims into the head of the loch. It should be a place well 

 fitted for the laying down and fattening of oysters, though the bottom 

 is perhaps somewhat too sandy. From Rousay, I went to the Island of 

 Egilshay to inspect the Bay of Varday, which, I had been told, was a 

 place well suited for breeding oysters. I found it a long narrow bay, with 

 a naturally fine bottom of shingle. But, unfortunately, the opening from 

 the sea into it is straight and short ; and with certain winds, a very heavy 

 sea rolls in and fills the bay with sea-weed, which decomposes and covers 

 the bottom of the bay with a coating of viscous, green, bad-smelling mud, 

 which would, I fear, be very unfavourable to oyster culture. 



The following questions in the printed queries circulated by me in 

 Orkney, previously to my personal inspection, had reference to 



Oysters and Mussels.* 



1. Are there any oyster beds or mussel scalps in Orkney at present which are 



regularly worked and yield a profit to their owners ; if so, mention the 

 localities where they occur 1 



2. Has the number of oysters and mussels in Orkney increased or diminished 



during the last twenty years 'I 



3. Do you know of any cases in which formerly productive oyster and mussel 



beds have been dredged out and so destroyed 1 



4. Are any steps being taken to restore such beds by scientific oyster or mussel 



culture ? 



5. Do you think that it is essential to successful oyster or mussel culture that 



the oyster or mussel culturist, having a legal right to oyster or mussel 

 beds, should be enabled to claim the protection of the police, or the coast- 

 guard, or some other effectual form of protection, in order to prevent 

 strangers from dredging out his oysters and mussels when they come to 

 maturity % 



6. Mention the localities in Orkney which you think best fitted for oyster and 



mussel culture, and state any other points regarding the oyster and 

 mussel fisheries which you think worthy of attention. 



I subjoin some of the answers received. Mr Harper, fishery officer, 

 St Margaret's Hope, writes as follows : — 



1. Oysters are got in the Bay of Firth, Mainland, and at no other place in 



Orkney. Fishing for them is free to all ; they are now nearly fished up. 

 A few years ago fishing for them paid well, but now it is only with low 

 spring ebbs that a few hundreds are occasionally got. There are no mussel 

 scalps in Orkney. Large coarse mussels are got in considerable quantities, 

 in water from 14 to 25 fathoms- deep in various places in amongst the 

 islands ; they are fished by grapnels, and used as bait for cod. 



2. Diminished. 



3. Considerable quantities of oysters were lately got in Deer Sound, but are 



now fished up. 



4. None. 



5. Yes. Unless protected, they would soon be fished up. 



* With regard to mussels, it is notorious that, both in Orkney and Shetland, there 

 is not a sufficiency of mussels to supply the demand of the hook and line fishermen 

 for bait, and that, owing to this circumstance, they are not unfrequently unable to 

 prosecute their calling to the best advantage. 



