MUSSEL FAUNA OF THE KANKAKEE BASIN. 



35 



2. The 32 mussel species obtained in the Kankakee Basin produce 

 shells of exceptional size, luster, and quality, and many of them are 

 of high commercial value. (See table, p. 39.) 



3. The basin is divided at the State line into two regions, radically 

 different in the conditions which they present, and harboring conse- 

 quently different mussel faunas. These regions may be designated 

 as the Indiana and Illinois portions of the basin. 



4. The Indiana part of the basin is a region of swamps, smooth 

 sandy bottoms, a uniform current, and abundant vegetation. It is 

 the home of Lampsilis and Anodonta, with relatively few Quadrula 

 species. It contains seven species not found in the Illinois part of 

 the basin, viz, S. compressa, A. f. subcylindraceus, A. imhecillis^ L. 

 glans^ L. iris, L. suhrostratus^ and L. parvus. 



5. The Illinois part of the basin is a region of rolling prairie 

 land, rough rocky bottoms, alternating riffles and dead water, with 

 almost no vegetation. It abounds in Quadmda, TJ . gihhosus, and 

 Symphynota, with comparatively few species of Lampsilis. It con- 

 tains eight species not found in the Indiana part of the basin, viz, 

 Q. tHgona, Q. lachrymosa, Q, metanevra, P. cesopa, S. complanata, 

 O. ellipsis, L. ellipsiformis, and L. fallaciosus. 



6. There are seven species universally distributed throughout both 

 regions, viz, Q. coccinea, Q. undulata, TJ . gihhosus, A. grandis, L, 

 ligamentinus, L. luteolus, and L. ventricostis. Five of these possess 

 shells which are in constant demand for the manufacture of buttons, 

 and the table of values given on page 39 shows that they are of 

 exceptionally good quality. 



7. Most of the species are richly infested wherever they occur 

 with an interesting variety of parasites, and some of these furnish 

 the requisite incentive for the production of pearls and baroques. 

 Both these products are common throughout the entire basin and 

 would undoubtedly become a valuable revenue if the mussels were 

 properly cultivated. Pearling might not pay here now, as the pearls 

 are quite small. It is, however, the best place the authors have ever 

 seen from which to attack the pearl problem. 



8. The most valuable species are all good breeders throughout the 

 basin. This, taken in connection with the excellent quality of the 

 shells they produce and the good railroad facilities everywhere avail- 

 able, makes this basin one of the best yet examined for the suppl}^ 

 of glochidia to be used in artificial mussel propagation. 



9. The fishes which have proved to be the most satisfactory hosts 

 of glochidia are abundant in all three of the principal rivers of this 

 basin. Their presence insures one of the most essential conditions 

 necessary for the success of mussel culture. 



10. The undredged portions of the Yellow Eiver, a distance of 

 20 miles from Plymouth to Ober, and of the Kankakee, a distance 



