THE MUSSEL FAUNA OF THE MAUMEE RIVER. 



By Charles B. Wilson and H. Walton Clark. 



INTRODUCTION. 



This report embodies the results of an investigation of the mussel 

 fauna of the Maumee River, carried on under the auspices of the 

 United States Bureau of Fisheries during the summer of 1908, and 

 it represents a part of the series of investigations undertaken by 

 that Bureau looking toward means of continuing the supplj^ of 

 mussel shells. Upon this supply, which had begun to show signs 

 of serious depletion, depends one of the important industries of the 

 country, the pearl-button industry of the Mississippi Valley. 



The scope of the inquiry embraced whatever appeared to be closely 

 related to mussel life, such as the history and character of the river 

 and its present mussel supply as regards abundance, quality, and 

 species. It was desirable also to ascertain where good breeding 

 stock might be obtained, the location, character, and condition of 

 mussel beds, and circumstances in which different species appeared 

 to thrive. Such features of general life history as food, habits, time 

 and manner of spawning, enemies, and parasites were also noted 

 whenever opportunity offered. 



In the choice of the area to be studied, the features to be emphasized 

 during the investigation, and similar details we have had the direc- 

 tion and advice of Dr. Barton W. Evermann, Chief of the Division 

 of Scientific Inquiry of the Bureau of Fisheries. His counsel has 

 been of great assistance in the preparation of this report. 



In addition to the Maumee River, the upper part of the Wabash 

 Basin was also investigated, in order that the two basins might be 

 compared where they are close together. This latter part of the 

 work also yielded many interesting results, especially in the spawn- 

 ing habits of mussels and the life history of parasites. The results of 

 the Wabash investigation are frequently referred to briefly where 

 they carry on lines left incomplete by the Maumee studies. 



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