46 
only available, for the pier is so high up that the channel which 
would otherwise be valuable for cultivation is taken up by steamers 
trading with Newburgh. The spat is collected at the mouth of the 
Ythan, and removed to suitable places at the sides of the river below 
the pier. Above the pier the mussels do not grow satisfactorily. 
The small mussels are removed in the spring and autumn and the 
mussels are usually not moved again, for the strong tides often sweep 
away the large ones, and even if they do attach themselves, they do 
not grow so satisfactorily as those in situ. Colliston and Newburgh 
fishermen enjoyed until lately the free use of the beds for a yearly 
rental. The former paid £4 a year, and the latter £3 a year per man. 
This arrangement now no longer exists, and the mussels are sold at 
5d. a peck, Messrs. Davidson's men doing all the work connected 
with the beds. In his evidence to the Scottish Fishery Board Com- 
mittee, Mr. Davidson said that 100 pecks would make a ton. This 
comes to over £2 a ton which is a good price compared with other 
places. Occasionally a portion of a bed is offered at a fixed sum. Mr. 
Davidson complains that the demand is declining. The principal 
natural enemies are the birds, which he says take a large share. 
As regards protecting this bed, they used to fine fishermen them- 
selves for poaching, but they have not had to do so for many years. 
Montrose Mussel Beds. — The importance of these beds as an 
object lesson in the use to which an immense tidal basin can be put, 
cannot be overestimated. In the report of the Committee on the 
Scottish Mussel and Bait Beds, the following summary is given of the 
evidence, “ From that evidence, it appears that ground on which 
‘ prior to 1853 there were no mussels,’ now yields annually 4 about 
14,000 measures,’ i.e. about 600 tons. It further appears that a 
considerable extent of ground which already produced mussels is 
made to return greatly increased crops by the adoption of a thorough 
system of sowing mussel seed, transplanting the growing mussels, 
and keeping the beds in the best possible order by allowing them 
occasionally to scour.” It was easy to see here as elsewhere the im- 
mense importance of getting the bank as level and as much under 
water as possible, so as to give the bivalves the best chance of 
keeping their position, and constant or almost constant feeding. 
The “ seed ” when it is gathered in the channel, and usually 
well down below the bridge is said to be two years old. It is placed 
on the banks and requires other two to live years to attain a 
saleable size. The five years period is the usual one, and gives the 
principal supply. 
