MUSSEL RESOURCES OF THE HOLSTON AND CLINCH RIVERS. 5 



that a good return might be obtamed by sortmg these out until a car- 

 load lot was obtained. It was the opinion of Mr. Boepple that 

 although among the dead shells in the river and along the banks 

 many were without value, yet several carloads of good shells could 

 be found. It has been learned since that the information given by 

 Mr. Boepple was availed of, and that a considerable quantity of 

 good shells from this region have reached the market. 



Several species of mussels were found to be "spawning" (gravid), 

 namely, muckets, pocketbook, fluted-shells, kidney-shells, and fan- 

 shells. The proper scientific names of these species will be found in 

 a list given below, showing the mussels found at this place with an 

 approximate estimate of the commercial value of the shells. Par- 

 ticular attention was given to a test of the value of the yellow-back 

 and green-striped mussels, which are the principal shells of these 

 beds. 



Shells Collected in the Holston River near Morristown, Tenn, 



a "Yellow mueket " may include also specimens of L. orbiculata; " green-striped mueket " may include 

 both L. ligamentina and L. lijamentinu gibba. 

 b Of value for souvenir or fancy articles. 



Seven valves, or three and one-half complete shells, give a weight 

 of 1 pound, and produce 8 dozen button blanks, according to which 

 test 100 pounds would produce a httle more than 57 gross of 168 blanks 

 per gross. Estimating the material at a conservative figure of 7 cents 

 a gross makes the value of 57 gross .13.99, or the value of the blanks 

 from a ton of shells $79.80. The black muckets are not equal in 

 quahty to the other muckets, which are indeed exceptionally fine. 

 The black muckets show many spots which would cause considerable 

 waste. Yellow muckets and green-striped muckets constituted 40 



9275°— 13- 



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