306 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
practically the entire work now consists in making and repairing apparatus used in 
button manufacturing and mussel fishing. 
The following, taken from a Muscatine paper, illustrates the cost of the necessary 
machinery and the apparent profits of the machinists: 
As so much has beeu said regarding the cost of jiroduciug i)eaii buttons^ and so little about the 
cost of the necessary machinery required in their manufacture, attention is called to the following 
schedule, figuring on a 10-saw basis. 
The cost of machinery and the price that it has been selling for allow a very handsome profit, 
and the business is now looked on as a money-making proposition, which is not overdone as some 
lines, but affords an opening lor new concerns to engage in. 
Griarbng machine: 
Casting $3. ."iO 
Steel .30 
Machine screws .15 
Machinist, 10 hours work. 2.00 
Helper, 10 hours’ work 1.00 
Emery wheel 4. 00 
Fan.: 5.00 
Automatic beveling ma- 
chine 22. 50 
Total 38. 45 
Two grinding luacliiiies with auto- 
matic beveling connection $70.90 
Turning machine: 
Casting 4. 00 
■Steel .60 
Machine screws .30 
Machinist, 20 liours’work. 4.00 
Helper, 20 hours' work 2.00 
Automatic tool shar|,'ener 
and emery wheel 2. 70 
Total 13. 60 
Five turning machines 08. 00 
Cutting machine : 
Castings $2. 80 
Steel 30 
Machine screws .10 
Machinist, 15 hours work. 3.00 
Helper, 15 hours’ work 1. 50 
Total 7. 70 
Ten cutting machines $77. 00 
Drilling machine: 
Casting 4. 00 
Steel .60 
Machine screws...-. .30 
Machinist, 20 hours’ work. 4.00 
Helper 2.00 
Total 10. 90 
Five drilling m.achiues 54. 50 
One sorting machine, conqirising the 
rollers and cups ^ 27. 50 
Shafting, pulleys, and belting 123.00 
Polishing fixtures, consisting of turn- 
biers, urns, etc 60. 00 
One sizing and grading machine 19.50 
Total outfit 506.40 
Cutting macbiues that cost $7.70 generally sell for $28. The cost of a 10-saw plant complete, 
$500.40; ruuniug expenses of manufacturer to produce this from raw material, $60; total, $566.40. 
Usual selling jnice for such an outfit as described above, from $2,500 to $3,000. 
METHODS PURSUED IN THE BUTTON INDUSTRY. 
The mussel shells, as iHircbased from the fishermeu, are hauled from the boats to 
the factories in drays or wagons either owned or hired by the manufacturers or in 
vehicles belonging to the fishermen. At the factory tlie shells are stored in covered 
sheds, the different kinds usually being kept in separate bins. Preparatory to being 
used, the shells are sorted into sizes by boys. Usually three sizes of “ niggerbeads’’ 
are recognized. Another preliminary step is the soaking of the sorted shells in barrels 
of fresh water for three to six days to render them less brittle. Even when only a 
few hours out of the river the shells become dry and brittle. It is necessary that they 
be used while wet, otherwise they crumble or split under the saw. 
The next step is the cutting or sawing of the rough blanks. Each cutter has a 
pile of selected shells at hand, and, in the large factories, is kept supplied by boys. 
Niggerbead shells are usually beld with special pliers while being cut; these grasp 
the circumference of the shell and enable cutters to retain it fast while holding the 
shell at right angles to saw. Some sawers have the hand gloved or mitteued, and 
use no pliers or pincers. At the more extensive plants a fine Jet of water plays on 
the shell, as the saw revolves, in order to prevent the formation of dust and to kee]) 
the shell cool. The dust is very irritating to the respiratory passages and eyes of the 
