MUSSEL EESOURCES OF THE HOLSTON AND CLINCH RIVERS. 7 



HOLSTON, FRENCH BROAD, AND TENNESSEE RIVERS, NEAR KNOXVILLE, 



TENN. 



Through the kindness of Mr. Curtis, a jeweler and pearl dealer in 

 this city, there was opportunity to examine a valuable local collection 

 of pearls and baroques. It was desired also to examine the Fr( n?h 

 Broad River, near its union with the Holston River, where they ferai 

 the Tennessee, and a boat and competent guide having been secured, 

 Mr. Boepple proceeded up the French Broad a distance of 5 miles to 

 the shoals. The beds were then examined by working down stream. 

 With each haul four to six mussels were obtained, chiefly the ele- 

 phant-ear. It was reported that at a distance of 20 miles up this 

 stream a large proportion of good white shells were obtainable. 



After entering the Tennessee River similar conditions prevailed, 

 only elephant-ears and a very few white shells being taken. It was 

 learned that below Knoxville there was a shoal with gravel bottom 

 where many mussels were to be found, but without pearls. Conse- 

 quently the local informant had no knowledge of the varieties of the 

 shells constituting this bed. A few days later it was found practical 

 to visit the shoals referred to. A haul was begun at a point 200 feet 

 above the shoals and continued through the shoals into the quieter 

 water below. Each haul extended over a distance of 20 to 50 yards 

 and each time 12 to 24 mussels were taken on a drag bearing 48 hooks. 

 Tliis was the condition just above and on the shoals. Mussels were 

 obtained throughout the entire width of the river, and some were 

 taken in the quieter water below. After the boat was filled with 

 mussels, a count showed that 90 per cent were elephant-ear and 10 

 per cent pig-toes, muckets, and others. 



The elephant-ears have no value, pig-toes were of the same value 

 as corresponding shells of the Ohio River. The monkey-face corre- 

 sponds in value to the pig-toes; white pimple-backs were comparable 

 to niggerheads in value. Muckets were of poor quality, the shells 

 being so thin as to produce chiefly tips, while the thicker part had 

 little luster, was chalky, and accordingly not susceptible of polish. 

 They were also partly spotted. A list of shells taken in the vicinity 

 of Knoxville is given below: 



Species of Mussels Collected in Vicinity of Knoxville, Tenn. 



