I used to go musseling to Loch Gruinart (sea loch); a great day out with a flask and butties.

I'd consult the tide tables for low water, when all the rocks were exposed.

Once home with them, I'd de-beard them and place them in a bucket of tap water overnight; they would spit out the sand. I would find tiny pearls (worthless).

The hardest part was de-bearding them, a labourious job, but a worthwhile task when eating them.