COMMERCIAL FISHING. 239 



MUSSELS The black, thin-shelled, salt-water mussel 

 is found on the Atlantic coast as far south as North Caro- 

 lina and on the Pacific coast north of Monterey. The shells 

 are used as paint holders and as ornaments. 



Large quantities of another genus are sold to farmers 

 along the New Jersey and Long Island coasts for fertilizer. 

 The fresh-water mussels are of much value as food for ani- 

 mals and birds, and the shells are used in making pearl 

 buttons. Pearl fishing was followed throughout the Mis- 

 sissippi Valley by the Indians and by the early settlers, in a 

 small way, but the first excitement in recent years was in 

 1878 in Ohio. Since that time at regular intervals "crazes" 

 have developed in one section or another. Among the 

 "crazes" may be mentioned that in Wisconsin beginning in 

 1889 and later extending down the river ; that in Arkansas in 

 1896, that on the Clinch River in Tennessee in 1901, that on 

 the Wabash in 1903, and that on the Illinois River in 1906. 

 At the height of the excitement in Arkansas it is estimated 

 that 10,000 persons were engaged in pearl fishing. The shells 

 of the mussels were a waste product until the opening of the 

 button factories. Now the shells are the important product 

 of the industry, while pearls furnish the speculative element. 



OYSTER Oysters rank first in value among all fishery 

 products of the United States. The oyster industry is re- 

 ported for every state on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, 

 with the exception of New Hampshire. The greatest pro- 

 duction is from the beds of Long Island and Chesapeake 

 Bay. 



PIKE PERCHES -The "wall-eyed pike" is known as "glass 

 eye", "pike perch", "yellow pike", "dory", and "blue pike" 

 on the Great Lakes, and as "salmon", "jack' "okow", "blow- 

 fish", and "green pike" in other localities. It is an excellent 

 food fish and sometimes reaches a weight of 20 pounds. 

 The sauger or sandfish, which is smaller and less important 



