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accumulated around tliem, the proportion of Bacillus coli 
communis of Streptococci, and of enteritidis spores appeared 
to gradually increase. If the mussels were to be used there- 
fore for human food it would he necessary to keep them free 
from weed, and perhaps the side of the scaup next the Old 
Law would be fo\ind to be the best area upon which to rear 
mussels expressl}' tor this pui'iiose. At the same time, con- 
sidering- the exceptionally pure conditions of the regrion, the 
question may be asked, are we not after all demanding; too 
hig;h a standard I-' The late Dr. Bulstrode, whose sudden 
demise we all reg;ret, was very favourably impressed with 
Fen ham Flats in this respect. 
'I’he experiment which I propose to continue for a little 
longer is therefoie satisfactory in that it shows that there is 
an immense area at present of no use except for the gathering 
of periwinkles, upon which a mussel farm could be formed 
with eveiy prosjtect of success. 
On May 4th, 1911, I sent the following lettei- to Lev. 
Irvine C'rawsliaw, vicar of Holy Island, who kindly acted as 
Secretary of the local ('ommittee, which was formed in con- 
nexion with the experiment, and J now take the ojiportunity 
to thank Mr. (’rawshaw and the members of the (’ommittee 
for the interest they have taken. 
“ I had an oiiportunity on Saturday of inspecting the 
experimental mussel bed, and in spite of the fact that it was 
covered with weed 1 was very pleased with it. 4'he results so 
far are (1) that the old mussels from the upi>er parts of the 
slake benefit by transj)lantation and can be turned into quite 
good bait; (2) that young mussels removed from tlieir 
natural position and spread out grow at a great rate com- 
pared with those left in the original place, even when such 
occur on the scaup. Thus it is plain that any work expended 
on the area will be repaid. The only question now is as to 
the best means of encouraging spatting. I should recommend 
putting in a number of posts at various places, and a fui-ther 
inspection to see where spatting takes place already. AVill 
you be good enough to communicate the gist of this to your 
Committee, and to ask them when they have an oppoi-funity 
to visit the beds even to try the mussels — so that we may 
come to some conclusion as to our future experiments, and 
also as to the larger problem of developing the area as a 
mussel farm.’’ 
