30 
that it will be the fault of the place and not of the men if the farm 
prove unsuccessful. There are some disabilities about Budle Bay 
to which we have already in a previous report drawn attention. But 
it appears to us that if the place be modified on the lines we have 
recommended to one correspondent that these would be consider- 
ably reduced. 
We have already made an experiment to find out how far the 
Coquet was suitable for mussel culture, but unfortunately, after the 
experiment was finished, it seemed to be nobody’s business to under- 
take the work on commercial lines. The Blyth is well known to the 
fishermen as a river which may be reckoned upon for a supply of 
mussel bait, but the quantity is limited and soon exhausted. This 
river and the Tweed may be made to be valuable if limited sources 
of bait, but only if some trouble be taken to improve them. Other 
places on the coast are worth enquiring about as well, notably Fen- 
ham Flats. 
The Committee have been and are considering the best means of 
controlling and regulating the mussel fisheries in the district with 
a view to providing a regular supply, but they have no power to 
undertake the industrial work, and it is therefore to be hoped that 
the fishermen or others interested will take the initiative. 
The proposed combined efibrt on the part of the fishermen 
reminds us of a suggestion we have made before, viz., that in their 
ordinary business as fishermen some degree of co-operation is desir- 
able, if tiiey are to successfully cope with the modern condition of 
the industry. It is quite plain that the present method so generally 
adopted of every fisherman being his own merchant is a very waste- 
ful one, and we feel that so long as the method continues, so long 
will the men be exposed to the losses entailed in sending small 
parcels by rail, and in marketing such in distant markets. If the 
word “ co-operation ” be objected to, let us say “ company ” ; and if 
we may again put into words what we are thinking of, it is that in 
a given fishing community, the men or such number of them as 
are willing should agree to market their catches together. One of 
their number would be elected to transact the business, to receive 
the moneys earned, and to pay the bills. Each crew would receive 
from their clerk a receipt for their catches in every case, and the 
settling could be done at stated intervals at a meeting of all the 
members when each would receive his share according to his 
catches. In view of such an arrangement there does not appear to 
be any risk of sacrificing individual efibrt. 
