59 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 
with a percentage of 57. The remainder was divided as follows: 
Three-ridges and blue-points, 18 per cent; pocketbooks, 10 per cent; 
warty-backs, 3 per cent; pigtoes, 1 per cent; and a few each of pistol- 
grips, black sandshells, butterflies, maple-leaves, and other unim- 
portant species. 
A few pearls and slugs were taken from this river as far up as 
Osage, Iowa, in 1914, but Charles City, Iowa, and vicinity was the 
upper limit of shell fishing. The most productive beds were in the 
vicinity of Cedar Rapids. This was also the lowest point on the 
river where shells were taken. The catch of 15 men in that localit 
amounted to 130 tons, valued at $2,020, and $975 worth of pearls 
and slugs. : 
The first mussel shells were taken for market from this river in 1905 
near Vinton, where a button factory was established about that time 
and operated for several years. ¢ 
Des Moines River—More than 75 per cent of the river’s output is 
taken between Ottumwa, Iowa, and about 15 miles below that city. 
Forty-five tons of shells were taken from the east fork of the river 
as far north as between Bert and Bancroft, this being the first year in 
which work was done on that branch of the river. The lowest point 
at which shells were taken was near Keosauqua, Iowa, an output of 17 
tons being shown for that vicinity. The prevailing species were 
three-ridges (including blue-points), warty-backs, muckets, and pig- 
toes, with percentages of 45, 18, 15, and 13, respectively. The 
remainder was made up of pistol-grips, maple-leaves, monkey-faces, 
lady-fingers, pocketbooks, etc. About 63 per cent of the catch was 
made with forks, 29 per cent with hands while wading, and the 
remainder with rakes. The first record of any shells being taken 
from this river was near Keosauqua in 1910. 
James River.—This river, said to be the longest unnavigable river 
in the United States, supported mussel fisheries from Riverside, 
S. Dak., to within a few miles of its mouth—Yankton, S. Dak. The 
most prolific beds were between Milltown and Olivet, S. Dak., 
and those located a few miles above and below Yankton. The total 
output of the river in 1914 amounted to 260 tons, valued at $3,498, 
and $700 worth of pearls and slugs. Twenty-seven persons were 
engaged in the fishery and had an investment of $1,460, including 
apparatus, boats, and shore property. About 90 per cent of the 
catch was taken with scoops, or basket rakes, and the remainder with 
forks and by hand. The output was composed of 85 per cent three- 
ridges (including blue-points), 10 per cent fat muckets, and the © 
remainder maple-leaves, pocketbooks, and heel-splitters. The first 
record of any mussel fishing being done in the James River was in 1912. 
Pearls, however, were taken several years previously. 
Osage and Marais des Cygnes Rivers—The Osage and Marais des 
Cygnes Rivers are treated as one, the latter being the name given to 
that portion of the river flowing through Kansas. Forty men, with 
an investment of $1,261, were engaged in shelling on this river from 
near Trading Post, Kans., as far down as Warsaw, Mo. The total 
output in 1914 amounted to 204 tons of shells, with a value of $2,111, 
and $380 worth of pearls. About 37 per cent of the catch was made 
with forks, 26 per cent with hands while wading, 22 per cent with 
crowfoot bars, and the remainder with diggers and tongs. The out- 
put was apportioned among the different species as follows: Three- 
