﻿48 
  MUSSEL 
  EESOUECES 
  OF 
  THE 
  ILLINOIS 
  EIVER. 
  

  

  The 
  Illinois 
  has 
  been 
  the 
  most 
  productive 
  stream 
  per 
  mile 
  of 
  any 
  

   in 
  the 
  country. 
  There 
  are 
  but 
  few 
  places 
  within 
  the 
  limits 
  of 
  shell 
  

   production 
  that 
  do 
  not 
  support 
  mussel 
  beds, 
  though 
  certain 
  stretches, 
  

   as 
  between 
  Peoria 
  and 
  Kampsville, 
  show 
  marks 
  of 
  depletion. 
  

  

  The 
  immediate 
  future 
  of 
  the 
  Illinois 
  is 
  good, 
  but 
  unless 
  suitable 
  

   mussel 
  propagation 
  is 
  introduced 
  and 
  carried 
  on 
  under 
  proper 
  man- 
  

   agement, 
  the 
  river 
  will 
  become 
  depleted 
  witliin 
  a 
  few 
  years 
  and 
  a 
  

   valuable 
  source 
  of 
  revenue 
  thus 
  be 
  lost 
  to 
  the 
  State. 
  

  

  There 
  are 
  several 
  good 
  localities 
  where 
  the 
  propagation 
  of 
  mussels 
  

   could 
  be 
  carried 
  on 
  successfully, 
  as 
  at 
  Peoria, 
  Havana, 
  Bath, 
  Beards- 
  

   town, 
  Meredosia, 
  Pearl, 
  Kampsville, 
  and 
  Hardin. 
  

  

  