8 V. B. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



The upper Kentucky River is practically an unknown and un- 

 worked mussel-bearing stream and contains an abundance of mussels 

 of commercial value, possessing good nacre and texture. Of these 

 the mucket constitutes about 90 per cent. This shell has a desirable 

 color, texture, and uniformity of thickness throughout. It appears 

 probable, therefore, that this stream may be particularly useful in 

 the near future as a source of remunerative empiloyment for the 

 mussel fisherman and of desirable raw material for the button 

 manufacturer. The pearls of this river, as a by-product of mussel 

 fishing, are of small consequence, both in the quantity and quality of 

 the pieces found. 



The railroad and steamboat shipping facilities of the main rivet, 

 of North Fork, and of lower Middle Fork are satisfactory. On the 

 upper Middle Fork and on South Fork there are no railroad or 

 steamboat connections and shipments must be handled by small 

 boats. In particularly dry seasons of the year transportation must 

 be made by hauling over rough roads. This is especially true of the 

 South Fork. 



The method of shell fishery in the Kentucky River is limited prin- 

 cipally to hand picking or to the use of the shell-fork. A stiff bottom 

 in which the mussels bury themselves deeply makes implements com- 

 monly used elsewhere in shelling useless in this river. 



Of 40 species of mussels observed as indigenous to the river, 22 

 are commercially usable, but only 9 are of relative importance. This 

 number includes as the most common shells suitable for button 

 manufacture the mucket, the pocketbook, the pimplebacks, the pistol- 

 grip, the long niggerheads, the maple leaf, and the fat mucket. 



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