of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



137 



TV.— ON THE HISTORY OF MUSSEL CULTURE AT MON- 

 TROSE DURING THE PAST SIX YEARS. By J. H. 

 Fullarton, M.A., D.Sc, F.R.S.E. 



In the Seventh Annual Report of the Fishery Board for Scotland, my 

 colleague, Mr Thomas Scott, F.L.S., and I, described the system of 

 mussel culture which has been followed at Montrose since 1853. In 

 choosing the Montrose beds to illustrate the cultivation of mussels on the 

 bed system, regard was had not only to the character of the beds them- 

 selves, but also to the thorough methods in operation which had con- 

 verted an expanse of mud and sand under water during the greater part 

 of the day into ground capable of rearing large quantities of mussels. 

 The mussel-ground in Montrose Basin is not of the highest class, and the 

 cultivators have difficulties to contend with and to overcome, which are 

 not met with in more favoured localities. Looked at as a whole, the 

 area under cultivation is fairly good ground, and the operations there will 

 serve as a pattern to various districts, where good, although not the best, 

 mussel-growing ground is to be found. The biological, geological, and 

 physical conditions exhibited by Montrose Basin, and the methods pur- 

 sued by the cultivators — the Ferryden and Usan Fishermen's Society and 

 Messrs J. Johnston & Sons — were given in some detail in the previous 

 Report on Montrose. While the system remains the same, much has 

 happened within the past six years, and difficulties have arisen within 

 this period greater than any encountered since cultivation was begun 

 upwards of forty years ago. Consequently, many lessons can be learned 

 which will be useful to intending mussel farmers, whether these be public 

 bodies or private individuals. 



The object aimed at is to augment the producing power of the mussel 

 ground, or possible cultivable ground, so that an additional supply of bait 

 may be available for the small-line fishermen. The history of the Mon- 

 trose beds for the past six years shows most praiseworthy enterprise, and 

 when one is familiar with the detailed working of the beds, the vigilance 

 exercised by the Superintendents, Messrs West & Lonie, must be noted. 

 In the beginning of 1889, owing to certain contingencies the aspect of 

 affairs in Montrose Basin was very different from what it is in 1895. In 

 the former year the stocks carried were less on the north side and greater 

 on the south side than in 1895. Progress, however, has been attained, 

 and I have been a witness of the slow, but, nevertheless, sure and steady 

 advance towards increased productiveness. The present condition of the 

 mussel area on the Dun Sands has been attained only after combating 

 successfully the difficulties which will always in a greater or less degree 

 be experienced at Montrose. The first, and an ever-recurring difficulty, 

 is the question of seed for stocking the large area under cultivation. The 

 scarcity of seed during the first three of the six years under review was 

 chiefly caused by the constant dredging of the Montrose Harbour Trustees. 

 A navigable channel must always be maintained, and even mussel culture 

 is secondary to the interests of navigation. The prolonged operations of 

 the Harbour Trust to ensure a certain depth of water in the harbour, 

 prevented the seed settling on the river bottom, or if it did settle, it was 

 rapidly covered up and buried by the great quantity of mud carried in 

 suspension by the currents of water and deposited over the whole river 

 bottom. The bottom of the bed of the tidal South Esk forms an admirable 

 collecting-ground for seed, but as the portion where it settles is below the 

 suspension bridge and is part of the harbour, it will always be liable to 

 disturbance and destruction when steam-dredges are engaged in obtaining 

 increased depth of water. The dredging destroys not only^the river 



