VALUE AND USES OF SHELLS 89 



from the Mississippi River was $17.00 per ton. The 

 average price per ton from all the other rivers was 

 $15.00. The total value of the shells from all the 

 rivers was $737,280.00. Since this report the prices of 

 shells from the Mississippi River have averaged $20.00 

 per ton, while the average prices of the shells of other 

 rivers has been reduced. 



At the present time, April 10, 1913, there is a strong 

 advance at Rapids City, Illinois, on the Mississippi River ; 

 shells are now worth $28.00 per ton. The price of shells 

 at Pearl, Illinois, is $16.00 per ton, and they are about 

 the same price at Peoria, Illinois. 



The Illinois River, in the vicinity of Peoria, has been 

 the scene of great activity in the pearl hunting and shell 

 fishing industries. Many fine pearls were found there 

 last year and about one hundred cars of shells were 

 shipped out of Peoria. 



Fig. 24 is a view of "Gatlin's Landing," Peoria, Illi- 

 nois, showing pearl hunters, cooking vats, shells, etc. The 

 large pile of shells in the upper lefthand corner of the 

 picture belong to Mr. Henry Gatlin, who sold them for 

 $1,500.00. This is just one of hundreds of such land- 

 ings to be found in various parts of the country. 



In addition to the large number of people employed 

 in the manufacture of buttons there are also several thou- 

 sand pearl hunters or "clammers." The amount they 

 receive for their work depends upon their skill and in- 

 dustry and many other conditions ; such as the supply of 

 shells in the water where they work, and the market 



