THE PROTECTION OF FRESH-WATER MUSSELS. 



By R. E. COKER, Ph. D., 

 Director United States Biological Station, Fairport, Iowa. 



PRESENT CONDITIONS. 

 THE MUSSEL INDUSTRY. 



The history of the fresh-water mussel industry gives illustration 

 of the promptness with which an American industry may be de- 

 veloped once the pathway is found. Undertaken in a small way 

 scarcely more than a score of years ago, the manufacture of pearl 

 buttons began almost immediately to assume the proportions of an 

 important national industry. As early as 1898, when the enterprise 

 was onl}^ G years old, there were about 50 factories in more than a 

 dozen towns along the Mississippi. With improved machinery and 

 methods further expansion occurred, until within a few years the 

 output approximated 30 million gross of buttons, with a value of 

 many millions of dollars. The growth of the industry has continued 

 to the present time, but exact figures will not be available until the 

 Bureau has completed a statistical survey now in progress. 



Not less important has been a resultant economic change, or modi- 

 fication of custom, that has affected practically every person in the 

 country. ^Yllere marine pearl was in rare use, fresh-water pearl, 

 with its quality and price, came to fill a universal requirement. 

 In one decade pearl buttons were high in price, used only upon the 

 better clothing, and commonly saved Avhen clothing was discarded, 

 while in the most general use were buttons of metal or agate or wood, 

 which rusted or broke or warped. In the next decade good pearl 

 buttons, neat and durable, were available to everybody and used upon 

 the widest variety of clothing. A former luxury had become a 

 common necessity. 



Coincident with the rise of the manufacturing industry, there 

 developed an important and widespread fishery, directly employing 

 thousands of persons and indirectly affecting persons and com- 

 munities of varied occupation. Commencing on the Mississippi 



3 



