MUSSEL BESOUECES OE THE HOLStON AND CLINCH KIVERS. ll 



Working at a point on the Clinch River a quarter of a mile above 

 its mouth, it was observed that along the banks chiefly small mussels 

 were found, while in the middle portion of the river large examples 

 of muckets, niggerheads, and pocketbooks could be taken. The 

 shells were found in the bottom at a depth of from 1 to 10 inches; it 

 was thought that the mussels buried themselves on account of the 

 low stage of the water. Below Agee the bottom was composed 

 mostly of large rocks instead of shoals and gravel, the mussels lying 

 between the rocks. Many fine large mussels could be taken by using 

 the tongs. 



As the mvestigation was continued down the river, October 31 and 

 November 1, many shoals were examined, as well as the piles of 

 mussel shells made by muskrats or by pearl hunters along the river 

 banks. Pearl hunters were observed taldng mussels with the use of 

 a long stick, which was inserted into the opening of the shell and 

 upon which the mussel would close and hold with sufficient firmness 

 to be brought up to the surface. Small dip nets were used to pick 

 up mussels that were lying on the rocks. Another method was the 

 use of a long pike-pole, on the handle of which was a steel .spring 

 which could be pushed down over the mussel. At this point, only a 

 short distance above Clinton, the three-horned warty-back, golf- 

 stick, and butterfly were first encountered. 



About 1^ miles above CHnton a shoal called Moores Ferry was 

 carefully examined. On one side the bottom was composed of a very 

 soft gravel, in wliich no mussels were found. About 50 feet from the 

 bank, however, the gravel was firmer and there were mussels. On 

 the whole, very few mussels were taken, and it was thought that the 

 beds were practically exhausted as the result of the persistent fishery 

 in the region of Clinton. Lower down the river piles of mussel shells 

 were found, which had been taken by pearl hunters working where 

 the water had a depth of 10 to 15 feet. 



COMMERCIAL VALUE OF MUSSELS FROM THE CLINCH RIVER. 



Mr. Boepple rated the mussels of the Clinch River as having par- 

 ticularly high market values. The niggerhead is not quite so good 

 as the Ohio River niggerhead, but it should bring a fair price. The 

 pig-toe of the Chnch River is of much better quahty than those of the 

 Ohio River; the black sand-shell is of extra fine quality. The sugar- 

 spoon and oyster mussel could be used for very small buttons; the 

 white pimple-back is of moderate value, and the fan mussel produces 

 good buttons, though its color in this region turns to common pink. 

 Mr. Boepple made the following statement in his notes: "The Clinch 

 and Holston Rivers have the best mussels for buttons that I have 

 seen in all my experience in the button busmess." 



The following table includes the result of commercial tests of 

 shells taken from the Clinch River near Clinton, Tenn., and from 



