REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 25 



to create a demand for sea mussels properly prepared, and while some 

 packers have been interested to preserve mussels for market, difficul- 

 ties hare been encountered in obtaining at the right time an adequate 

 supply of mussels in condition for use. During the fiscal year 1918, 

 the Bureau conducted a reconnoissance of the mussel beds of the 

 southern coast of New England and along the shores of Long Island 

 Sound. In the fiscal year 1919 a similar investigation was made on 

 the coast of Maine, with A'aluable aid from the commission of sea 

 and shore fisheries of Elaine. A summan- of the results as reported 

 by the investigator may be given: 



1 . A survey of the mussel beds lying near low-tide level was made 

 between Portland and Eastport. The most important beds were 

 centered in six regions: Casco Bay, Medomak Kiver, St. George 

 River, Deer Isle, Frenchmans Bay, and Jonesport. 



2. Within these limits more than 1,200 acres of natural mussel 

 beds were located which were estimated to yield 1,279,000 bushels. 

 Not more than 10 per cent of this area supported a growth of first- 

 class, marketable shellfish. Tlie rest of it was covered with a small, 

 undersized stock of poor quality that would never amount to any- 

 thing unless transplanted to deeper water and more advantageous 

 situations. 



8. The best beds lie at or below low-tide mark and yield from 

 2,500 to 5,000 bushels per acre. 



4. Artificial cultivation, by transplanting J^oung or seed mussels 

 from beds situated between tide marks to areas in deep water, where 

 conditions are favorable for growth and fattening, would result in 

 an enormous production of marketable sliellfish. 



5. There is no oyster industrv^ on the Maine coast with which a 

 mussel industry might conflict. 



6. The water of the })ays and estuarias on the Maine coast is unusu- 

 ally ])ure and free from pollution, which makes them most desirable 

 areas for the production of marketable mussels. 



7. There is a small demand for Maine mussels in Chicago which is 

 being su])pliefl from the beds in Frenchmans Bay. 



8. Several of the leading packing houses located on the North 

 Atlantic coast arc interested in the canning of mussels and are taking 

 steps to put the product on the market. They should be encouraged 

 in this enort by help in solving the problems that arise in the han- 

 dlhig and presennng of the shollfish and by advertising any "j)roducts 

 of real merit that are produced. 



9. It is believed that the development of a mussel fishery is a 

 practifnl tiling and that it vill add considerably to the wealth and 

 lood supply of the Nation. 



Fresli-vmter mussels. — The investigations and experiments bear- 

 ing upon the propagation of fresh-water mussels, conducted in con- 

 nection with the fisheries ])i()logical station at Fairj)ort, have continued 

 to }-ield valuable results. One of the most significant experiments 

 was conducted in the Mississippi River at Lake Pe])in during the sum- 

 mer of 1918, when fish, after infection with the glochidia of fresh- 

 water mussels, were kept in an inclosure 12 feet square, erected in 

 shallow water in the lake. This small pen was provided with a 

 board bottom over which a thin layer of sand was laid, and after it 

 was placed in water of suitable depth in the lake it was stocked with 



