28 
THE MUSSEL BEDS OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 
(With Maps I.— VI.) 
By MARIE V. LEBOUR, B.Sc., 
Armstrong College, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 
The following is an account of an investigation of the Mussel 
Beds of Northumberland, undertaken during the sessions 1905-6 
and 1906-7, with the intention of making a study of the condition 
of the mussels in the various beds, their breeding seasons, and the 
nature of their surroundings. There is a great want of mussels for 
bait along the coast, the chief reasons for the scarcity being 
improvidence in over-gathering, and the action of storms which 
carry away the spat and prevent its settling, often also destroying 
the shelter of the existing beds. The mud and sand brought down 
by floods and currents during such storms are harmful, as they 
frequently choke up and kill large patches of mussels. In no case 
does there seem to be any pollution of the beds, the scaups being 
situated in favourable places, which are comparatively free from the 
risk of sewage contamination. 
The mussels which are or have been cultivated are all worked 
on the bed system, which seems the only suitable method on this 
coast. The Bucliot system used so much abroad could only be 
applied at Budle and Holy Island ; it would, however, be in- 
advisable to risk so much expense on a venture which most 
probably would be unsuccessful, as it has been tried on the Scotch 
mussel beds with small success. 
The only bed on this coast which can really be said to be 
cultivated now is that at the mouth of the River Waren (i.e., Budle 
Bay), where good mussels are flourishing, although not now in 
great numbers. 
It is well known that it is chiefly in the neighbourhood of river 
mouths that mussels are to be found, and there are several such 
suitable places between the Tyne and the Tweed, the following 
rivers opening into the sea: — Blyth, Wansbeck, Lyne, Coquet, Ain, 
and Waren. Of the small streams or burns those running on to 
Fenham Flats are of significance, and the Holywell Burn at Seaton 
Sluice may be mentioned. The Tyne must be put out of con- 
sideration altogether, the present conditions being quite unsuited to 
