6 
coast searched for ground for additional planting. No such suit- 
able ground has been found, except in those localities where the 
mussels already form more or less thriving beds, and in some of 
these a good deal of space is available. The chief reasons for the 
bad supply of mussels in most of the beds are overgathering, the 
action of storms on parts of the coast, the extermination of the 
mussels in certain areas by starfish and whelks, and, at Blyth, 
the removal of the land forming the mussel beds by dredging. 
A good deal might be done in the way of planting if the beds 
could be protected. The report is illustrated by maps showing 
the position of each bed, and is followed by an appendix in which 
the mussel parasites, both harmful and comparatively harmless, 
are noticed. 
In the report for 1899, page 49, suggestions were made for 
utilising the mussel resources of the district for the benefit of the 
inshore fishermen, and these still appear to be quite practicable. 
It must be remembered that with the possible exception of Fenham 
Flats none of the available places is large enough to be developed 
on a commercial scale. But if the existing claims could be 
acquired by the Committee, the mussel beds could be allocated 
under a bye-law, providing also for their general management, 
amongst the fishing villages. These communities would be 
required to undertake such improvements as may be decided to 
be necessary, under the direction of the Fishery Officers, and to 
respect the local and general bye-laws. It is essential first of all 
to find out if the fishermen really desire to have the local beds 
put at their disposal. The Fishery Officers calculate that in 
Northumberland the fishermen use annually some 400 tons, valued 
at £900. 
Mr. E. L. Gill, M.Sc., Curator of the Hancock Museum, con- 
tributes a short account of a Cat-fish, Anarrhichas latifrons, which 
was caught 15 miles E.N.E. of the Tyne. 
