14 THE ECONOMIC MOLLUSCA OF ACADIA. 



traded to them by the fathom-measure for want of an ell- 

 measure.'" As Lescarbot points out, the shells from which 

 the white wampum was commonly made, do not occur upon 

 the shores of Acadia, and the Acadian Indians do not appear 

 to have manufactured the purple wampum, though the 

 material for it was abundant on the North Shore. Denys 

 mentions that they wore among their ornaments, " white and 

 violet porcelain," and goes on to say, — " they make of it also 

 pendants for the ears, which they have pierced in two or three 

 places. This porcelain is nothing else than the teeth (dents) 

 of a certain fish which is taken by the savages in Xew England, 

 and which is very rare there and at this time is very much 

 valued among them ; that which is common now, has each 

 grain of the length of half a finger's breadth." 



Prof. Bailey mentions the occurrence of wampum in an 

 Indian grave on the Tobique, though made, as he thinks, from 

 the shells of Fresh-water Mussels. 



The most noted dyeing material of ancient or modern 

 times, that which gave the Tyrian Purple, was obtained 

 from Molluscs which are closely allied to our Purple-shell 

 {Purpura lapillus). The latter shell, exceedingly abundant 

 on our shores, itself yields an unchangeable rich crimson dye, 

 which can easily be obtained. The expense of collecting it, 

 however, is much too great to allow it to be of any commer- 

 cial value. The Long Whelk (Buccinum icndafum) also is 

 said to yield a dye. 



Of minor uses for shells, there are very many. Several of 

 the large bivalves, notably the Scallops and the great Sea- 

 clam (Mactra) are used by fishermen's wives and others for 

 dishes. The Acadian Indians made their pottery in part 

 from powdered shells, and no doubt made much use of them 

 as household utensils. Oyster shells are frequently used for 

 road-making in the United States, and of course could be so 

 utilized with us. They are said to be among the best of 

 materials for this purpose. In the United States, shells of 

 various kinds, chiefly Oyster and Scallop, are strewn upon the 

 oyster-beds to give a clean firm surface for the young to 

 attach themselves to. Oyster-shells are also ground up to be 



