CHAPTER XIII. 



THE DIP NET AND ITS USE. 



\ 



WHEN the dip net was introduced in Peoria 

 Lake in 1911, a valuable appliance was added 

 to the pearl hunter's equipment. The other 

 appliances were failures in Peoria Lake, and as soon as 

 the usefulnes of the dip net was demonstrated, all other 

 implements were thrown away and are now rusting on 

 the shore of the Illinois River, north of Peoria. The dip 

 nets have become very popular there and will probably 

 come into general use in many other localities -as soon 

 as their merits become known. The new appliance has 

 some very good features. It will gather all of the shells, 

 regardless as to whether they are opened or closed, while 

 the crow-foot dredge can only catch the ones that are 

 opened. Then, too, it is probable that a dredge hook 

 may sometimes pull a pearl from the posterior portion 

 of the shell and lose it in the mud without even catching 

 the mussel. The dip net works on another principle and 

 is not liable to such a fault. If a mussel contains a 

 pearl it is very likely to be taken whether the shells are 

 closed or not. Another good thing in favor of the dip 

 net is that it can be used where there is no current. Some 

 very fine shells and pearls are found in the quiet lakes 



130 



