85 
The legislative methods which have been proposed have for their 
bject the protection of the young stages, by an enlargement of the 
lesh of the net, or by imposing a size limit. Such measures are of 
iational importance and do not fall to be discussed in a paper 
Herring to Northumberland, although the wish may be expressed 
fiat the Board will soon receive the powers necessary to take action 
this and other matters affecting the fishing interests when it is 
Hewn to be desirable. 
One reason for the decline in the inshore fisheries is the difficulty 
i obtaining mussel bait. The Warham mussel farm is being 
Orked with moderate success by Mr. Mitchell, but it is altogether 
■adequate to supply even the adjoining ports. An experiment, 
Hide some years ago in the Coquet, demonstrated that mucsels 
Old be grown there successfully. The region has undergone some 
jgree of change since then by the deepening of the harbour. An 
pperimental plot has been laid out near the mouth of the harbour 
s year, 1900, which already shows that the region is admirably 
Kbpted for mussel cultivation on a small scale. It is therefore 
^sible at such places, as the mouth of the Blyth and the Coquet 
Horm small scaups, but not scaups sufficiently large to pay for 
rking on a commercial scale. I have already suggested in a pre- 
us report on the subject that if the bait rights attached to tin 96 
ccs were acquired by the Committee, such small scaups could be 
nmed and handed over for management to one or more of the 
ivr fishing communities under the control of the Committee. It 
ild be worth while, moreover, to make a careful survey, with the 
^sent of the owners, of Fenham Flats, and to experiment thereon 
ind out whether a mussel scaup could be formed there large 
ugh to be worked on commercial lines. 
An enquiry on the subject of the mussel supply in Northumber- 
I II is at present being made by Miss M. V. Lcbour, B.Sc, and a 
I :>rt will be published next year (see page 100). 
