FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1930 519 



MUSSEL-SHELL INDUSTRY OF THE LAKE FISHERIES 



Statistics of the mussel-shell industry of the lake fisheries were 

 obtained for the year 1929 for the first time since they were collected 

 as a part of the complete survey of the Great Lakes for 1922. The 

 mussel-shell industry employed 988 fishermen during 1929 as com- 

 pared with 563 in 1922. The value of the catch of mussel shells and 

 pearls and slugs amounted to $349,647, which is an increase of 50 per 

 cent as compared with the value of the catch in 1922. The catch of 

 mussel shells amounted to 7,414,521 pounds, valued at $328,782, 

 which is an increase of 19 per cent in the catch and 51 per cent in the 

 value of the catch as compared with the catch and its value in 1922. 

 The value of the catch of pearls and slugs was $20,865, which is an 

 increase of 33 per cent as compared with the value in 1922. Con- 

 sidered according to value, mussel shells were by far the most impor- 

 tant product, accounting for 94 per cent of the total value of the catch. 



OPERATING UNITS 



The catch of fishery products in the mussel-shell industry of the 

 lake fisheries was taken by 988 fishermen, 545 motor boats, 261 other 

 small boats, 689 pairs of crowfoot bars, 110 tongs, 422 forks, 10 rakes, 

 and 234 picks. 



The 10 rivers tributary to Lake Michigan accounted for over 99 per 

 cent of the total number of fishermen employed and for over 99 per 

 cent of the boats operated. The single river tributary to Lake Huron 

 accounted for the remainder. 



Grand River accounted for 51 per cent of the total number of fisher- 

 men employed and for 50 per cent of the boats operated. St. Joseph 

 River accounted for 25 per cent of the fishermen and 26 per cent of 

 the boats. Muskegon River accounted for 10 per cent of the fisher- 

 men and 7 per cent of the boats. All these rivers are tributary to 

 Lake Michigan. 



Michigan accounted for 87 per cent of the total number of fisher- 

 men employed and for 85 per cent of the boats operated. Indiana 

 accounted for 10 per cent of the fishermen and 11 per cent of the boats, 

 and Wisconsin accounted for 3 per cent of the fishermen and for 4 per 

 cent of the boats. 



CATCH 



Three types of gear accounted for 95 per cent of the fishery products 

 taken in the mussel-shell industry of the Lake fisheries during 1929. 

 By far the most important of these gears were crowfoot bars, which 

 accounted for 67 per cent of the catch and 67 per cent of the value of 

 the catch. Ranked next in order were forks, which accounted for 18 

 per cent of the catch and 18 per cent of the value of the catch. Picks 

 were third, accounting for 10 per cent of the catch and 10 per cent of 

 the value of the catch. 



The 10 rivers tributary to Lake Michigan accounted for 99 per cent 

 of the catch and 99 per cent of the value of the catch. The single 

 river tributary to Lake Huron accounted for the remainder. 



Grand River accounted for 54 per cent of the total catch and 55 per 

 cent of the total value. St. Joseph River accounted for 19 per cent 

 of the catch and 19 per cent of the value. Muskegon River accounted 



