142 American Fisheries Society 



I am astonished that our fishermen do not use mussels more fre- 

 quently instead of clams and various fish. The mussels are such an 

 attractive bait, especially for cod, haddock and such fish, that the 

 development of this industry is well worthy our efforts to promote. 



Many years ago I was Secretary of the Mussel Commission of the 

 British Islands and visited various mussel beds on the continent of 

 Europe, and saw something of the methods of cultivation. The British 

 coast is much exposed and artificial beds are carried away by storms, 

 so we had to resort to transferring the young mussels to other locali- 

 ties where they could find food to grow into marketable size. The 

 bed system and methods of artificial culture are a little too expensive 

 on this side and in Britain. There is a lot of handling, and labor is 

 expensive. I wish Dr. Field would explain why they still continue it 

 in France and make it pay. 



Dr. I. A. Field: The reason they can carry on the bed system in 

 France is because both labor and material are particularly cheap in 

 that region. Furthermore the mussels grow large and at a phenomenal 

 rate and bring the best prices, I think, of any mussels growing along 

 that coast. 



President: I find my neighbors on the Connecticut coast do not 

 use them much. There is a fine bed near me on the Sound, but it is 

 entirely neglected except by my own family. During a voyage of the 

 Albatross we found the Indians about the Straits of Magellan living 

 chiefly on the large mussel, Mytilus chilensis, which average five or six 

 inches. Our whole ship's company of eighty persons feasted on these 

 wonderful mussels which were eaten steamed. 



Prof. Ward, of Illinois: Is the shell of these salt-water mussels 

 utilized for commercial purposes? 



Dr. I. A. Field: I think there is a commercial use for it in the 

 form of chicken feed. In addition to the lime it contains about 8% 

 of albuminous material in the adult (16% in the year-old shell). If 

 that albuminoid material can be digested by hens there is_no reason 

 why it cannot be converted into eggs. 



Mr. Lydell, of Michigan: Has anyone tried this mussel, by grind- 

 ing it up, as food for young bass or any other fish we are attempting 

 to raise? We have been experimenting with the meat of the fresh 

 water mussel from the button factories. We have been very success- 

 ful so far with young bass, and I hope to report upon the matter in 

 another year. We have also fed them whole to the large bass which 

 appear to be very fond of them. 



President: The Chair can answer Mr. Lydell's question in part. 

 There is no doubt that nearly all kinds of fishes are fond of mussels. 

 At the New York Aquarium the salt water mussel has been used along 

 with other molluscs. Some fishes are especially fond of crushing the 

 shells of the smaller ones. 



