SHF.LL AND PEARL FISHIXG OX THE MISSISSIPPI 19 



Geological Survey. He has also been a constant contril)utor to Science 

 and the American Xafurali.st, always rnakinii; his points in strong, clear 

 English and with a simple and forceful style. The same powers of mind 

 which make him a great naturalist gi\e him success as editor. He has had 

 in charge the Bulletin and Memoirs of the American Museum since 1887, 

 has edited the Bulletin of the Xuttall Ornithological (hil) for eight years 

 and for a jx^riod of twenty-eight years has been editor of The Auk, the official 

 publication of the Ornithological I'nion. It has been the c|uiet, contimial 

 and thorough work of Dr. .Mien as editor of Tlw Aiil: and in the council 

 of the American Ornithological I'nion that has proved one of the most 

 important factors in keeping alive in America the interest in ornithology 

 aroused at the time of the publication of ("ones' Kei/ to Xoiil: A)nerican 

 Birds. 



Although perhaps not conscious of the fact, Dr. Allen is a great force 

 in the American Museum. At the head of the department of mammalogy 

 and ornithology for twenty-seven years, neither the possible official power 

 of the position nor the necessary routine have kept him from continual 

 and arduous scientific investigation and from gi\ing with great l)road- 

 mindedness etiuality of opportunity to those working with him; as a result 

 the department has set an example as a producing power and enforcefl the 

 truth emphatically set forth in the li\es of eminent naturalists heretofore — 

 that definite scientific knowledge, the suuuuation of which constitutes the 

 basis for the world's progress, can be gained only by single-mindedncss of 

 purjjose that is forgetful of self. 



SHELL AND PEARL FISHING ON THE MISSISSIPPI 



By ]V. P. Ilerrieic 



Dr. Hcrrick is engaged in a study of the fresh water pear! clams and the pearl fisheries 

 of the United States, especially in such questions as the number of pearls secreted relative 

 to hardness of the water, and to distortion of the shell and other diseased conditions of the 

 clam. He spent several months at the Mississippi pearl lisheries during the past summer 

 and has recently been making use of the Museum library in his work. He has engaged to 

 supply the new Shell Hall with materials for a display illustrative of the pearl industry. — 

 Editor. 



A YOUNG workman in (Germany, who had served an apprenticeship 

 in making buttons from bone and from the marine mother-of-pearl, 

 received a present of some shells said to have come from X\w rivers 

 of America. These lay in a, dusty corner of his shop until finally he deter- 

 mined to work up a ivw into buttons. He found the material desirable, 

 and the price of marine shell being high, started at once for the United 

 States, taking with him his small foot-power machine. On arrival he 

 worked his way slowly westward examining the ri\ crs for shells. One day 

 a num watching his work said, " "\'ou ought to go to the Mississippi where 



