PEOTECTION OF FRESH- WATER MUSSELS. 11 



Closed season of months. — The aim in establishing a closed season 

 for tlie mussel fishery during a portion of the year is either to protect 

 the mussels from disturbance during a breeding season or else to 

 diminish the extent of the fishery by limiting its duration. 



It might be very proper to protect the mussels during the active 

 breeding season, if such a season could be defined; but, as a matter 

 of fact, the various species of mussels in any particular stream have 

 different seasons of breeding. The mussel industry is based upon a 

 considerable number of species of economic mussels. There is a 

 group which has a short breeding term during the summer months. 

 Such are the species known commercially as " niggerhead," "pimple- 

 back," " monkey-face," " maple-leaf," " blue-point," " three-ridge," 

 etc. The " washboard " seems to have an intermediate breeding 

 term during the early fall, though it may be that in some cases it 

 carries its spawn into the winter. Many of the more important 

 species of mussels have a long term of breeding; in the latter part 

 of the summer and in the early fall the eggs are deposited into brood 

 I^ouches within the shell of the female, and there, after they hatch 

 and develop, they are carried over the winter, to be liberated in the 

 spring and early summer.'* Of this kind are the '' mucket," " sand- 

 shell," " pocketbook," " butterfly," and others. 



In view of the variety of commercial mussel species and the di- 

 A^ersity of breeding seasons, it does not appear practicable to deter- 

 mine upon a closed season that will accomplish its particular purpose. 

 The Illinois law prohibits the taking of mussels in any navigable 

 water in that State between the 1st day of October and the 1st day 

 of April; but, as illustrating how such a measure may apply in a 

 particular case, practically all of the mussels in the principal river 

 of that State — the Illinois River — are short term or summer breeders, 

 spawning some in June, July, and August, others in October and 

 about that time. Only a few carry the spawn, after its development, 

 through the winter. 



The principal objection to an enforced interruption of the fishery 

 during a period of months is that it deprives the mussel fishermen 

 of the right to earn a living by their profession during a portion of 

 each year. This objection has real weight, and should be overborne 

 only by decided advantages to be gained from a closed season. 



Restricting the methods of fishery. — The principal implements for 

 taking mussels are the crowfoot bar, the rake, the fork, the tongs or 

 scissors fork, the dip net, and the dredge. These several pieces of ap- 

 paratus are variously adapted to conditions of depth, rate of current, 

 and character of bottom, as well as to the aptitudes and customs of 

 the fishermen. Before a method should be prohibited it should be 



" Pos5Sibly theje mussels liberate glochidia to a limited extent during the fall and win- 

 ter ; but the general statement is well founded. 



