Shira. — State Legislation for Fresh-Water Mussels 39 



non-resident clammers and, what is most important, a provision 

 permitting the state to close certain portions of its waters to 

 commercial clamming for a period of years to permit natural 

 recuperation and artificial replenishment of the beds. This bill 

 also provided for reciprocal action between states with reference 

 to boundary waters. 



This measure was immediately enacted by Minnesota and in 

 a modified condition, by Illinois. During the past year the measure 

 has been favorably acted upon by Wisconsin and Iowa, so there 

 are now four Mississippi River states with quite uniform mussel 

 laws in all essential features. These states are to be congratulated 

 on their far-sighted policy and their praiseworthy action should 

 lead to closer co-operation in the future, and should be a stimulus 

 to other states confronted with the same problems. 



Adequate and early action in the protection of mussels is 

 most urgent and necessary because of the peculiar conditions 

 involved. Owing to their rather sedentary habits they are 

 subjected to capture to an unusual degree. A stream may become 

 so depleted that it will no longer support a regular fishery and the 

 last professional sheller may leave it for more productive fields. 

 Instead, however, of being left to recuperate, the remaining mussels 

 are subjected to haphazard and sporadic methods of fishery by 

 persons in various walks of life until they are reduced to the last 

 degree of exhaustion. During times of very low water, persons 

 gather the mussels wantonly, or in search for pearls, discarding 

 the shells. These small quantities of shells mean that in the 

 aggregate a large amount of valuable raw material is unused and 

 wasted. Not only this, it means the removal of nearly the last 

 remnant of mussel life for procreation. A suitable license fee and 

 proper law enforcement will largely do away with such practices 

 and shelling will only take place when it can be conducted profit- 

 ably from a commercial standpoint. The effect of this has been 

 shown in the states where the protective provision has been in 

 force. 



As stated above, one of the most important measures for 

 the conservation of mussel life is that feature which makes pro- 

 vision for the closing of streams or sections of streams to clamming 

 for a period of years. The fresh-water mussel is a comparatively 

 slow growing animal and the extensive mussel beds that once 



