16 MUSSEL FAUNA OF MAUMEE EIVER. 



Measurements and Weights of St. Marys River Mussels. 



Below the mussel bed and also in it were i\ large number of dead 

 shells. These were covered with water and appeared to be still as 

 good for commercial purposes as ever, since they retained their 

 original texture and luster. Some of the shells that had been longest 

 dead were stained black, perhaps from iron in the water, but this 

 color was superficial and could have been easily ground off. The 

 mussels appeared at the time of our visit to be dying in some num- 

 bers, for a good many still retained the position they had during life 

 and the flesh was still clinging to the interior of the shell. Some of 

 the larger living shells were diseased and stained brown or gi'een in 

 the neighborhood of the cardinal teeth. 



The stomachs usually contained considerable mud, in which w^as 

 scattered a few diatoms, Scenedesmus, Pliacus, etc.; the amount of 

 organic material was quite small. The results of studies of stomach 



