FRESH-WATER MUSSELS AND MUSSEL INDUSTRIES. 



57 



handles and working them together the forks are forced into the bottom and closed on 

 the mussels. When it is closed, the handles are held together while the implement is 

 raised hand over hand to the surface; after washing out the surplus mud and sand by 

 a vertical motion the shells are dumped iiito the boat. 



FORK. 



Occasionally a common fork is used in the smaller streams, more especially during 

 the low water of summer. The tool generally employed for this purpose is the coal 

 or coke fork, such as is shown in figure 5. The manner of working w^th the fork is 

 similar to that of spading a garden. The operator wades into the water from the shore 

 or from his boat and begins to fork over the mussel bed systematically. On bringing 

 each load to the surface of the river, the sand and mud are washed from the fork by 

 dipping it a number of times into the water; the shells are throwTi into the boat, which 

 is always kept near by. Since it is much easier to go with the current, the shellers 

 usually work dowTistream, and in consequence have more or less 

 muddy water to contend with. 



The method often yields good results, but involves more or less 

 exposure to the water. It is not particularly to be commended, since 

 the complete digging up of the beds is detrimental to the smaller mus- 

 sels, as well as to the bed itself; the sand and mud of the bottom, to a 

 certain extent at least, are carried away by the current to be depos- 

 ited lower down in the river's course. 



Since the fork can be employed only in very shallow water and 

 during warm weather, its use is consequently limited and irregular. 

 It may be found in use during low stages on the St. Francis River, 

 Ark., the Wabash River near Vinceimes, Ind., and in various isolated 

 localities. 



DREDGE. 



^ 



Fig. s.— The fork used 

 in taking fresh-water 

 mussels in shallow 

 water. 



The dip net is sometimes referred to as a dredge. There is also 

 a typical mussel dredge that has been in limited use in Arkansas 

 since 191 2. While this dredge requires a greater initial outlay than 

 the simpler forms of apparatus previously described, it offers much promise as a profit- 

 able method of taking mussels. The apparatus is well shovvTi in the accompanying pho- 

 tographs (PI. XXX, figs. I and 2) and requires but a brief description. 



The dredges are of various dimensions; of the two particularly observed, one w^as 

 18 by 24 inches, the other 36 by 72 inches. The dredge may be described as composed 

 of two heavy, long-toothed rakes with the iron handles so pivoted together scissors 

 fashion that the two rakes when closed or brought together, form an oblong basket. 

 Each half of the smaller dredge was 18 by 24 inches, the tines being 8 inches long and 

 made of five-eighth inch square iron, pointed at the free ends. The remainder of the 

 basket was made of flat iron about i inch wide. The dredge is operated betw^een two 

 boats firmly attached together by cross decking at the ends, but with a suitable space 

 left between them. 



In Plate XXX, the lower figure shows the larger dredge, 3 by 6 feet, spread, and 

 held in this position by dogs on one side ; it is resting across the boat. When the dredge 

 Is to be lowered, it is raised by the windlass until free of the boat, then swung around 



