The necessity for imposing restrictions upon the size of mussels to be
removed from the beds is brought out more clearly by the photographs
than could be done by any lengthy discussion. All of the shells shown
in plates I and II were actually taken for market, sold, and shipped to
the factory. The smallest ones (in the three upper rows on plate I)
were not wanted at any factory; they were bought only because the
fishermen had thrown them into the piles along with the larger shells,
"to add weight." Most of the very smallest shells, those under 1 inch
in length, are subsequently lost in handling, by falling through the
forks or otherwise wasting as they are thrown into the car or from the
car to the bin. None of the shells in the three upper rows of plate I
would ordinarily be used by any manufacturer. It is true that some of
the shells shown have had one blank cut out, and these were actually
cut at a commercial plant, but the instance was a very rare one and was
certainly unprofitable. Even if the manufacturer desired it, the
cutters will not handle shells from which only one blank can be cut,
since the waste of time outweighs the saving of material.
[Illustration: U. S. B. F.--Doc 793. Plate I.
SMALL SHELLS ACTUALLY MARKETED. ALL EXCEPT THOSE OF THE THREE LOWER
ROWS SHOULD BE LEFT IN THE RIVERS.
[About one-half actual size, which is shown in inches at right of
plate.]]
[Illustration: U. S. B. F.--Doc 793. Plate II.