THE MUSSEL FISHERY AND PEARL-BUTTON INDUSTRY. 
303 
RECENT STATISTICS OF THE MUSSEL OUTPUT. 
The quantities of mussel shells which were taken by the fishermen and sold to 
the button manufacturers in 1897 and the first six months of 1898 are shown in the 
following- table. The total output is seen to have been 3,817 tons in 1897 and 3,950.71 
tons in the first half of 1898. For these quantities the fishermen received $43,998 and 
$38,868, respectively. 
The predominating importance of the niggerhead mussels (Quadrula ehena) is 
apparent, as these constituted 89 per cent of the yield in the first-named year and 94 
per cent in the latter. The sand shells are second in importance, and are taken in 
larger quantities than all the remaining species combined. 
Quantities and values of inusseh sold hij the mussel fishermen on the 3Iississi2>pi River in 1S97 and 1898. 
Species. 
Tons. 
3, 414. 00 
299. 00 
81.75 
22. 25 
Value. 
1807. 
Nifffi6rh6Ji(ls 
$34, 149 
8, 960 
287 
602 
Ariiclrf*t<i 
All others - 
Xotal 
3, 817. 00 
43, 998 
1898 (tirst 0 mouths). 
I'liffgerhejols 
3, 709. 00 
102. GO 
26, 25 
12. 89 
$36, 891 
’l54 
161 
Saud shells 
Al no h^tQ 
A 11 otlip.rs 
Total 
3, 950. 74 
38, 868 
In 1897 the average prices per ton received by the fishermen were $10 for nigger- 
heads, $29.97 for sand shells, $3.51 for muckets, and $27.06 for all others, the general 
average jirice being $11.53. In 1898 the prices were $9.95 for niggerheads, $16.20 for 
sand shells, $5.87 for muckets, and $12.50 for the others, with a general average of $9.84. 
THE BUTTON INDUSTRY. 
ORIGIN AND PRESENT IMPORTANCE OF THE BUTTON INDUSTRY. 
The manufacture of buttons from the native fresh water shells began in the United 
States in 1891, the inauguration of the business being made possible by the high tariff 
on imimrted buttons imposed by the tariff bill of 1890. This levied a duty of 24 cents 
per line per gross on shell buttons and 25 per cent ad valorem. In the customs act of 
1897 the tariff on pearl buttons was fixed at 14 cents per line per gross and 15 per 
cent ad valorem. 
The first person to engage in this business was Mr. J. F. Boeiiple, who had for 
many years been similarly engaged in Hamburg, Germany. On account of an abun- 
dance of suitable mussels in its vicinity, Musciitine, Iowa, was selected as the site of 
the first factory and has now become an important center for button manufacturing. 
Other towns on the Mississippi and its tributaries from time to time established 
works, until in 1898 there were 21 communities in Iowa and Illinois in which buttons 
