THE MUSSEL EXPERIMENT ON THE 
COQUET. 
The mussels put down for experimental purposes on the Coquet 
were of two kinds, viz., young mussels from Blyth and small mussels 
from the rocks at the outside of Amble Harbour. The latter made 
no progress and indeed soon disappeared. On the south side of the 
river the Blyth mussels did well for a few weeks but they gradually 
disappeared likewise. They were put dowm rather high up and were 
to some extent liable to be covered with mud. On the north side, 
however, and especially where they were placed near to low water 
they grew well and rapidly, so much so that we found they were 
gathered with the native mussels by a number of men who frequent 
very constantly the Coquet for that purpose. 
It is difficult forecasting from the progress made by a few mussels 
put down in rather a scattered manner, how far a mussel bed would 
be a commercial success. What we have to guide us is that mussels 
grow there at present if not numerously, at least to a good bait size, 
and they are “well-filled.” Our experiment shows also that the 
conditions are very favourable for the growth of mussels. The 
unfavourable circumstances are— (1) the mud which comes down 
the river during a fresh and (2) the dredging of the harbour which 
would interfere with the lodgement of spat. There is, however, a 
great deal of room in parts of the harbour not touched by the 
dredging operations and about the piers, and we have confidence in 
recommending, therefore, that a start should be made by getting- 
together in the most favourable places the mussels already in the 
river and adding a few tons from another place. 
After the statement, which was made at the October meeting of 
tlie Sea Fisheries’ Committee, that the Budle beds could not cope 
with the local demands, it is desirable that the Conservancies and 
Harbour Commissioners as well as the owners of Fenham Flats 
should be approached with a view to developing the mussel resources 
of the rivers over which they have jurisdiction. A beginning could 
be made in a small way, such as that suggested for the Coquet. It 
would demand very little expenditure in the way of labour or other- 
wise. If this is done such bodies may find, as has been the experience 
at St. Andrews and Montrose, that mussel beds may be made a 
valuable source of revenue. 
