THE MUSSEL FISllEKY AND PRARL-ISUTTON INDUSTRY. 
293 
of fislienner. between Fort Madison and Sabnla was estimated at 1,000. As many of 
the tishennen have no permanent heaibiuarters, but move from place to place, it is 
dillicnlt to obtain an accurate statement of their number. 
The leading tishing and button-manufacturing center is Muscatine, at winch place 
in 18'JS there were about 100 mussel tishennen. On an extensive and ])roductive bed, 
as many as IbO to 300 lisliermen may be engaged at one time. 
In view of the small amount and inexpensive character of the ai)i)aratus required 
to prosecute the tishery, the comparative ease with which the mussels are taken, and 
the little experience required, mussel tishing is regarded with favor by many men, as 
they aie readily able to get their catch to market and dispose of it, receiving cash in 
payment. When they tind a good mussel-bed they sometimes make $30 or more per 
week. The average earnings, however, are considerably less, at this time jirobably 
being less than $10 per week. Some days $2 or $3 will be made, but inclement 
weather prevents fishing and reduces the average. 
The income of the mussel tishermen is now generally less than formerly, owing 
to the increase in the number ol’ lishermcn, the lower prices received for their catch, 
and the reduced abundance of the mussels. 
ARPARATUS AND MF/l’HODS. 
Owing to the comparatively shoal water in which mussels are found, they may 
be gathered with less difficulty than is ordinarily encountered in taking shelltish. 
Furthermore, the shoaluess of the Mississipiii makes every jiart of it accessible to the 
tishermen and renders the exhaustion of the beds more certain, speedy, and complete. 
Mussels are obtained with various kinds of aiijiaratus. Those which have been 
or are now in use are the hand-rake, the tongs, the rake hauled by means of a wind- 
lass, the dredge oiierated by steam, and the bar with hooks. 
The rakes are of several patterns, but all are essentially alike. The commonest 
form, known as the shoulder rake, has a wooden handle II, 1(1, 18, or 20 feet long, 
attached to one side of an elliptical metal frame; on the under side of the fx'ame are 
12 to II iron teeth 5 inches long; the head of the lake is converted into a kind of bas- 
ket by a i)iece of coarse wire netting attached to the frame; the mouth of the basket is 
8 inches deep, 0 inches wide, and 10 inches long. The rake is used from an anchored 
boat. The handle is placed over the fisherman’s shoulder, and the rake is ])laced up- 
stream to the full length of the pole. The fisherman then slowly works the rake 
toward his boat, being aided in this by the action of the current on a broad wooden 
piece nailed crosswise near the base of the handle. The rake is then lifted perpen- 
dicularly from the water and the mussels are emptied into the boat. This rake is also 
used through the ice. 
The tongs, which along parts of the Mississippi are called “scissor rakes,” are 
similar to the ordinary oyster and clam tongs. They are used in water as deep as 15 
feet, but usually in only 10 feet or less. The value of the tongs is $3 or $3.50 each. 
The dredge or rake used with a windlass, locally known as the “drag rake,” is 
larger and heavier than the shoulder rake and of different shape. It has a rectangular 
iron framework covered with narrow strips of hoop iron placed about an inch apart. 
The apparatus has the appearance of a fiat cage, with long teeth projecting oblixpiely 
downward from the anterior lower margin. The I’ake, with the Avindlass and rope, is 
worth about $25. 
