REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 53 
ridges (including blue-points), 43 per cent; washboards, 17 per cent; 
ig-toes, 15 per cent; muckets, 12 per cent; and a few each of warty- 
acks, monkey-faces, lady-fingers, pistol-grips, maple-leaves, and but- 
terflies. The most prolific beds were those between Warsaw and 55 
miles above that town, 22 men working on these beds obtaining 110 
tons, with a value of $1,540, and $100 worth of pearls. 
Wapsipinicon River.—Mussel fishing on this river in 1914 extended 
from Independence as far down as Anamosa, Iowa. The total output 
was 132 tons, valued at $1,797, together with $765 worth of pearls and 
slugs. The 37 persons engaged had an investment, in apparatus, 
boats, and shore property, of $811. More than 50 per cent of the 
catch was made with forks, the remainder being taken by hand 
while wading, and with crowfoot bars, and rakes. The catch was 
divided among the different species as follows: 71 per cent muckets, 
15 per cent lire jroiil ts and three-ridges, 10 per cent pocketbooks, 
and the remainder warty-backs, squaw-foots, pig-toes, and heel- 
splitters. The first mussel fishing on this river of which there is 
any record was in 1908. 
Iowa River.—The total output of this river in 1914 was 93 tons of 
shells, valued at $1,038, and $2,975 worth of pearls and slugs. The 
86 persons engaged had an investment of $345 in apparatus, $500 in 
boats, and $300 in shore property. More than one-half of the shells 
were taken with hands while wading, about 25 per cent with forks, 
and the remainder with crowfoot bars and rakes. The shells were 
apportioned among the various species as follows: 42 per cent muck- 
ets, 30 per cent pocketbooks, 20 per cent three-ridges (including blue- 
points), and the remainder divided among warty-backs, squaw-foots, 
istol-grips, black sand-shells, maple-leaves, pig-toes, lady-fingers, 
eel-splitters, and butterflies. Pearls were found as far up the river as 
Popejoy, but the upper limit of mussel fishing was near Eldora, from 
which place it was followed at intervals as far down the river as North 
Liberty. The first mussels for commercial use were taken from this 
river in 1908. 
Minnesota Riwver.—Mussels were taken at intervals along this river 
in 1914 from Montevideo, Minn., to within a short distance of its 
mouth, the total output amounting to 118 tons of shells, valued at 
$1,254, and $455 worth of pearls. The 13 men engaged had $120 
invested in apparatus, $280 in boats, and $145 in shore property. 
The most important catch was made in the vicinity of New Uln, 
Minn. The entire output of the river was taken with crowfoot bars, 
and was composed of 56 per cent three-ridges (including blue-points), 
27 per cent muckets, 6 per cent washboards, 5 per cent warty-backs, 
ae: a few each of niggerheads, pig-toes, and pistol-grips. The first 
commercial fishing in the Minnesota River was done near its mouth 
in 1905 by a few fishermen from the Mississippi River, who remained 
only a short time. Work was followed up more steadily from 1909. 
Meramec River.—Mussel shells were taken from the Meramec River 
in 1914 at various localities between St. Clair and Valley Park, Mo., 
the total output amounting to 90 tons, valued at $830, and $465 
worth of pearls and slugs. The 30 fishermen engaged had an invest- 
ment of $280 in apparatus, boats, and shore property. Nearly nine- 
tenths of the mussels were taken by hand and the remainder with 
crowfoot bars. Muckets composed about 43 per cent, three-ridges 
