10 MUSSELS OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN MINNESOTA. 



showed far more wisdom than is common under such circumstances, 

 for eveji the children had sense enough to save the valuable shells 

 and turn them over to a local blank factory situated on the shore of 

 Cross Lake in Pine City. At that time this factory was running 

 entirely on such small job lots, which could be obtained at a con- 

 siderable reduction in price. 



PROPAGATION. 



Some of the mussel fishermen claimed that this locality was 

 practically worked out, and in consequence they had left and gone 

 to Rice Lake. But all of those who remained told us that they 

 had no difficulty in gathering 500 or 600 pounds a day. The supply, 

 however, is not inexhaustible, and unless measures are taken to 

 replenish the more valuable species they will soon be gone. 



Everything combines to make this an ideal location for such 

 artificial propagation. Pine City, the county seat of Pine County, 

 is conveniently reached by the Northern Pacific Railroad, 60 miles 

 from St. Paul. It is located on the shores of Cross Lake and along 

 the banks of Snake River, and the waterway is unobstructed up the 

 river into Pokegama Lake. Hence propagation at a single point 

 would supply both of the lakes and the river. And there is an 

 abundance of the right kind of fish to serve as hosts for the glochidia. 



RECOMMENDATIONS . 



1. The muckets and the maple-leaves that are found here are 

 exceptionally fine shells, and in some way the local conditions are 

 peculiarly suited to their development. They should be locally 

 propagated, therefore, in sufficient numbers to keep up the supply. 

 In all probability they wiU yield better returns than any other species 

 that could be introduced. 



2. A careful study of these mussels and of the local conditions 

 should be undertaken in order to determine, if possible, what it is in 

 the way of lime, food, or other things that renders these shells so 

 exceptionally fine. 



3. With a good local supply of these remarkable shells and a 

 working knowledge of the conditions under which they flourish, 

 it would be a simple matter to introduce them into other localities 

 having a similar happy combination of river and lake. Among such 

 possible localities may be mentioned Rice and Koronis Lakes near 

 Pa5niesville in Stearns County, Clearwater Lake near Annandale in 

 Wright County, Lost and West Lost Lakes near Fergus FaUs, and 

 Pine and Little Pine Lakes near Perham in Ottertail County. 



4. A small local factory may often render efficient service by ^ 

 saving the odd lots of shells that are just as good in quality as any of i 



