of. the Fishery Board for Scotland. 
17 
From these figures it will be seen that the quantity of mussels 
landed from Scotch mussel-beds has decreased to a considerable 
extent in recent years. The increase shown last year occurred 
both on the East Coast and the West Coast, but was mainly owing to 
a very large augmentation in the quantity obtained from the 
important mussel-beds in the Clyde. In 1890, these beds yielded 
only about 750 tons, while last year they furnished about 2550 
tons of mussels, or an increase of 1800 tons, almost all of which 
were used for bait. 
In this Eeport Dr J. H. Fullarton gives the results of an 
examination made into the present condition of the Clyde beds. 
The relative abundance end eharacter of the mussels distributed on 
the different banks are described, and it is shown that overfishing 
has in past years occurred to an injurious extent, and that by a 
proper and rational system of culture these beds might be made to 
yield a very large and constant supply of bait for fishermen from 
year to year. Lists are given of the pelagic and bottom fauna, 
especially of the Crustacea, and a chart accompanies the paper, 
showing the present extent and limit of the various beds. 
The clam beds in the Firth of Forth continue to supply large and 
increasing quantities of a valuable bait, which is now largely used 
at various parts of the East Coast, as well as at the fishing 
villages in the neighbourhood. In 1886 these beds yielded 9,100 
cwts., valued at £1,256, while last year they supplied 28,512 cwts., 
or 1,425 tons, valued at about £3,350, showing an increase from the 
previous year of 2,765 cwts. in quantity, but of only £39 in value. 
There is as yet no evidence to show whether the increase in the 
supply of clams from the Forth beds is due simply to greater pro- 
ductiveness or to over-fishing, as has happened with so many bait- 
beds. 
During the ensuing summer it is proposed to transport clams, 
prior to the breeding season, to selected localities further up the 
coast, with the view of establishing beds of this valuable bait in 
proximity to the fishing stations at which line fishing is extensively 
prosecuted. 
Inquiries into the Food, the Reproduction, Habits, and 
Migrations of the Food-Fishes. 
During the past four years continuous investigations have been 
carried on respecting the food, spawning, migrations, &c. of the 
food-fishes, in accordance with a system devised by Dr T. Wemyss 
Fulton early in 1888. These inquiries have been prosecuted on 
board the ' Garland,' with the View of ascertaining as much as 
possible concerning the habits and life-histories of sea- fishes, for 
the purpose of judicious regulation and conservation of the food 
supply. In several other counties similar inquiries have been 
organised, and are now being carried on in a systematic way, and 
have yielded results of great value. Hitherto the investigations 
have been almost exclusively confined to inshore waters for the 
reason previously given — the small size of the ' Garland,'— -but 
B 
