10 MUSSEL RESOtTRCES OF THE HOLSTON AND CLINCH RIVEES. 



Meiers Shoal was found to have abundant mussels, and on other shoals 

 several miles lower on the river, where the water was shallow (6 to 

 18 inches deep) and rapid over a rough bottom, there were observed 

 large numbers of the best shells, which had been recently discarded 

 by pearl hunters. Examination of the bottom by means of the rake 

 was made in many different places, but practically no shells were 

 found except the finest muckets. It was estimated that a carload of 

 shells could be obtained in that vicinity. 



At a point 5 miles lower, where the river bottom was composed of 

 rocks and small gravel, mussels of large size were found. On the 

 29th, Cloud Shoals was reached and investigated. On account of the 

 compactness of the bottom, the rake formerly used was discarded 

 for a common pitchfork, with which the mussels could be more easily 

 obtained. Various species were found, but the chief shell was the 

 mucket. Elephant-ear and fluted-shells were observed to be decreas- 

 ing in abundance the farther the investigation was continued down 

 the river. 



A httle lower on the river a pearl hunter was observed taking the 

 mussels by the rather crude method of using an iron hook to pry the 

 mussel from the bottom and push it into a tin can that was 

 lowered to the bottom. He reported that pearls were more fre- 

 quently found in mussels taken from the deep water, possibly because 

 the older and larger shells were to be found in such a location. 



Mr. Boepple was informed of a unique method of mussel fishuig 

 sometimes pursued in that vicinity. By using a plow drawn by a 

 strong team and working where the water had a depth of 4 to 12 

 inches, the bottom is thorouglily plowed up so that the mussels can 

 easily be picked from the surface. 



Another good mussel shoal was found just before reaching the 

 mouth of Powell River, a short distance from Agee. 



A brief examination was made October 30 of the lower portion of 

 the Powell River, the bottom of which, in this region, is described as 

 being of limestone and gravel. One bank is rocky, with high bluffs, 

 while the other is bordered by good farming lands. Mr. Boepple 

 employed a pair of tongs, somewhat similar to blacksmith's tongs, 

 with which he could work in 5 feet of water. The chief mussels 

 taken in the lower portion of the river were three-ridges and fluted- 

 shells. A little higher up a great many muckets, black sand-shells, 

 three-ridges, and hatchet-backs were encountered. Three pearl 

 fishers working together in one boat were found prosecuting their 

 work, two men manipulating the boat, while the third collected the 

 mussels, using a small fork with long handle. 



The mussels of the Powell River have not so high a commercial 

 value as those of the Clinch. The muckets, which were mostly old 

 mussels, constituted about one-fourth of the shells. The three-ridges 

 were listed as without commercial value. 



