16 
Part III. — Eighth Annual Report 
Hybridism among Sea Fish. — In the Notes and Memoranda will 
be found an account of certain ingenious and interesting experi- 
meuts made by Mr Thomas Scott, F.L.S., on board the ' Garland/ 
on the artificial fertilisation of the ova of certain species of sea 
fishes with the milt of other species, sometimes widely separated 
zoologically. 
5. Shore and Bait Fisheries. 
The shore fisheries, comprising lobsters, oysters, mussels, &c, 
require constant care and supervision. 
Mussel Bait. 
The supplies of mussels are of special importance to the line 
fishermen of Scotland. From quite recent information obtained 
from various parts of the coast it is evident that the supplies 
of Scotch mussels are very inadequate for the needs of the 
fishermen. On some parts of the coast, where extensive mussel 
beds exist, supplies are fairly abundant. The Fifeshire fishermen 
obtain nearly all their mussels from Newhaven. Mr Mair, the 
fishery officer at Anstruther, states that at the beginning of the 
year a reduction was made in the cost of the carriage of mussel- 
bait from Newhaven to the east of Fife. Previously the cost was 
sixpence per cwt. for a ton or more than a ton, and eightpence per 
cwt. for quantities below a ton. Now the charge per cwt. is eight- 
pence for three cwts. or under, sixpence for three or more cwts., 
and fourpence halfpenny for three tons or over. This is an im- 
portant concession in favour of line fishermen. There is also a 
reduction in the cost of carriage of clams. At Stonehaven the 
supply has been abundant and of excellent quality, but expensive. 
The mussels are obtained chiefly from Holland, vid Leith, and cost 
the fishermen about £2, 15s. per ton. Irish mussels cost about 
£2, 10s. per ton, but they are not so good in quality, nor so free 
from dirt and refuse as the Dutch mussels. At Peterhead, owing 
to the increased prosecution of haddock fishing, there has been a 
scarcity of mussels ; those used are obtained chiefly from Holland 
and the North of Ireland. The Irish mussels cost about £2, 6s. per 
ton, about £1, 8s. of which represents the cost of carriage. The 
Dutch mussels, which are preferred, cost the fishermen about £3 
per ton. On account of the great demand and the scarcity, prices 
have lately risen considerably. The fishermen at Fraserburgh 
complain of the inferior quality of the mussels and the increase of 
price. In the Moray Firth Dutch mussels are now largely used. 
They are of excellent quajity but expensive. A ton costs £3, 3s. 
at Macduff. Irish mussels cost about £2, 10s., but are considered 
less economical, as a ton of Dutch mussels will bait fully double 
the number of lines that a ton of Irish mussels will. At Buckie 
mussels are obtained from Tain, Dundee, Port-Glasgow, Newhaven, 
Hull, Ireland, and Holland. Dutch mussels landed at Buckie in 
February 1890 sold at £3, 10s. per ton. 
On the East Coast, therefore, the Dutch mussel is now being 
very largely used as bait. The fishermen say they form the best 
bait they have had for many years : but complaint is made of their 
great cost. 
