The Statistical Account of 1793 highlighted the seasonal employment of harvesting mussels. “On the south side of this part of the Tay, there is a Scalp of a small kind of mussels, esteemed good bait for the white fish; they are purchased for that purpose by the fishermen in the neighbourhood.” This developed into an important industry recognised at national level when as usual on the completion of herring fishing, boats from various parts in the north came to Tayport for their winter store of mussels for baiting their lines. In September 1883 the press reported “The harbour has been unusually busy this week, no fewer than 6 vessels having come in and discharging wood for the Messrs Donaldson. A few vessels are loading coals for foreign ports, and the mussel fishers have had a hard weeks work in loading the fishing boats which have come from the north, and in fulfilling their orders.” In 1888 the Scottish Mussel emporium was lobbied to hold their enquiry in Tayport, being the main source of this vital resource. The last commercial boat ceased in the mid 1960s although for a long time afterwards the youngsters fishing on the harbour steps utilised the mussels attached to the seaweed for bait to catch podleys.

The mussel harvesting was known as the Draig and was initially carried out by the use of heavy rowing boats but in later years steam puffers were introduced for both propelling the boats and dredging the mussels.  A dispute arose in 1845 in relation to the Laird’s claim of entitlement to an exclusive right of levy on the mussels and salmon; however the courts ruled in favour of the fishermen. The strength of community among the dredgers was reflected in the formation of their own Victoria Football Club in 1885, but the introduction of the steam trawler saw the eventual demise of the line fishing and demand for the mussels. The last commercial boat was operated by Jackie Philp and ceased in the mid-1960s.

Often harvested at Tam’s Hole, an area to the east of the Pile Light and some of this tradition still remains on the shoreline out past Lucky Scalp.  They were gathered in baskets then transferred to larger bags and carted to the burn that flowed down from the Dam past the Gas Works where they would be washed before being sent off for human consumption. It was reported in the press 1883 that “A Mrs Reid of Inn Street was engaged in gathering whelks between the two west lights when she found the body of a newly born female child”. Tragically, a similar situation occurred in 1971 when local postman Ian Robertson was walking along the beach with his 5 year old son Neil, when he came across the body of a 2-4 year old boy who was never identified. He is buried as the Unknown Bairn in Tayport Cemetery.