6 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND. NATURALIST 
with the latter in deeper portions of Straight Slough and 
West Newton Chute in their lower stretches, revealed the 
fact that young beds of shells of commercial quality were 
flourishing under conditions which might be favorable for 
restocking, despite the ultimately desired effect of the dams, 
as the sloughs are to some extent fed with local drainage. 
Piles of shells at these points indicated the extent of: former 
clamming operations. Certain species, such as the bull head, 
(Pleurobema aesopsus), as we collected it, apparently find 
their most congenial environment here. Shells collected from 
the sloughs appear to have brighter colors-and a finer grain 
than those secured from the river proper. 
When the preceding data on general conditions in the areas 
and the status of the mussel fisheries are considered in en- 
tirety, it becomes evident that before the mussel resources of 
these areas can be improved, some practicable basis must be 
determined, from which meastires looking forward to the 
protection and the improvement of the mussel resources can 
be inaugurated. This is all the more important when it is ~ 
remembered that the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota are 
pioners in the legislation for the protection of mussel re- 
sources, .it is quite likely that other states will enact similar 
measures. The reason for this study and appraisal of mussel 
resources in certain areas of Wisconsin and Minnesota thus 
becomes clear. 
IV. METHODS. 
(a.) Description of outfit for collection of shells. 
The work was approached from the standpoint of the mussel 
fisherman, a bar and crowfoot outfit being used to collect the 
shells. The outfit was towed from place to place by a 
Government Launch. In the areas above Lake Pepin, 
(I-VI. inc.,) 100 hooks were attached to each of the 16-ft. bars. 
Below Lake Pepin, starting at Read’s Landing, (areas VII.-X. 
inclus.), the river bottom is heavily infested with snags, so 
the bars were shortened to 10 ft., with a consequent reduction 
in the number of hooks on each to 75. In the first named 
areas, the data presented represents the results of three trials 
of the same length of drag with the bars, (300 ft.) ar 2ach 
of the localities, (those to be checked five years hete), in- 
