PEARLY FRESH-WATER MUSSELS 79 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 38a 



Two or three years ago, during low water, tbree men picked up and shipped five or 

 six car-loads from a point about one or one and one-half miles below York, and shipped, 

 it is reported, to Buifalo. 



From the lower dam at Brantford to the old power-house at Echo Place, there is 

 what was at one time a barge canal, about If miles long. Where cuts were made it is 

 about 50 feet wide and 5 or 6 feet deep. There is still in this system Mobawk lake, 

 three-eighths of a mile wide by one-third mile long and 20 to 30 feet deep in places. 

 Six or seven years ago, when the water was let out for repairs, this was tbe best place 

 in the immediate vicinity of Brantford for clams, as to size, quantity and variety. 



It is said that about ten years ago clams were abundant at a point about balf way 

 between Brantford and Paris, called Mulloy's Farm. 



I am also informed by the city engineer of Brantford that large numbers of clams 

 are to be found in the vicinity of Bow Park farm. 



The fall on the Speed river, a tributary of the Grand, is well utilized, and clams 

 of good size are found behind nearly all the dams whicb hold back the water over a 

 considerable area of storage basins.^ 



SPECIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF SHELLS. 



I have twice visited the Uunnville area, and found a considerable variety of 

 mussels of commercial value. My investigation there was much facilitated by Mr. 

 H. Clark, who superintends the shell-fishing. In discussing the mussel fauna, only 

 such species as are of commercial value will be considered. 



In the following list common names are also given along with the scientific 

 ones : — ^ 



Scientific Name. Common Name. 



Lampsilis alata, Say Pink heel-splitter. 



Lampsilis luteola, Lam Fat mucket. 



Lampsilis recta, Lam Black sand-shell. 



Lampsilis venficosa, Barnes . . . . Pocketbook. 



Ohliquai^ia refiexa, Itlai Three-horned warty-back. 



Quadrula lachrymosa, Lea Maple leaf. 



Quadrula plicata. Say Blue-point. 



Quadrula ruhiginosa. Lea Wabash pig-toe. 



Quadrula undulata, Barnes Three-ridge. 



No doubt this list does not contain all the species of commercial value found in 

 this district. I have, in fact, picked up the Fluted-shell, Symphynota costata, Raf., a 

 good many miles north of Dunnville, and it likely occurs here. I might in passing- 

 mention Lampsilis gracilis, Barnes, (Paper shell), a large mussel found here, but 

 which is of no practical value on account of the thinness of its shell. Of the above 

 species those most commonly occurring are L. alata. Q. plicata, and Q. undulata, L. 

 alata is a good-sized heavy clam, quite a large niunber of the shells weighing in the 

 neighbourhood of a pound, but its value is much reduced for button manufacture on 

 account of its usual pink or purple colour. Q. plicata and Q. undulata are similar in 

 appearance and comprise the chief commercial species of this area. They grow to a 

 large size, and as a rule have a good white lustre. I have in my collection one of the 

 former species weighing Ig pounds, and of the latter, one Is^a pounds in weight. L. 

 luteola is naturally a valuable shell, as its quality is excellent, and it cuts and finishes 

 with least waste. The area around Dunnville, however, does not appear to be parti cu- 



I I am indebted to the Hydro-Electric Power Commission offlce at Brantford for valuable 

 data, and also for reports on c'am distribution on the Grand river system. 



2 For nomenclature see Synopsis of Naiades, or pearly fresh water mussels. Proceedings, 

 U.S. National Museum, Vol. XXII, No. 1205, 1900, Charles T. Simpson. 



