FISH-CULTURAL STATION IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

FEBRUARY 23, 1909.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed.

Mr. WILSON, of Illinois, from the Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries, submitted the following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 22895.]

The Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 22895) to establish a biological and fish-cultural station in the Twenty-third Congressional District of the State of Illinois, having considered the same, respectfully report with the recommendation that it do pass with the following amendments, to wit: Amend the title of the bill so as to read: "A bill to establish a biological and fish-cultural station in the State of Illinois."

Strike out in line 6 the words "Twenty-third Congressional District" and insert the word "State" after the word "the" in line 5.

It is the intention by the establishment of this biological and fishcultural station to assist in making permanent the supply of raw material for the growing American industry of manufacturing pearl buttons from the shells of fresh-water mussels and the industries collateral to it. By the establishment of this station proposed in this bill it is believed that it will help to solve the question of artificial propagation, and that the supply of these shells will be perpetuated by propagation along the Wabash River. The investigations by the United States Fish Commission has shown the relation of the fresh-water mussels of the United States to the pearl-button industry. The report of the Secretary of Commerce and Labor made in 1905 showed that the manufacturing of pearl buttons from these shells of the fresh-water mussels has grown during the past few years, and that the rapidity with which these shells were being taken from the streams of the United States threaten the extinction of these mussels. The commission created under the supervision of Prof. Paul Bartsch, an eminent biological authority, has determined the mode of development of fresh-water mussels, and it has been found to differ from what occurs from any of their marine relatives. The difference lies in the fact that the embryo lives for a time as a parasite upon fresh-water fishes and can only develop in this way.

It is also clearly demonstrated that there has been a steady decline in the beds of these fresh-water mussels on account of the great number H R-60-2-Vol 1-65

that have been taken out in the last few years. And unless some measure is taken for replenishing it will only be a short time until the beds will be exhausted. There is much to be learned in reference to the propagation of these mussels, and it is necessary to have such a station where experiments may be made.

A statement of the principal facts in the life history of our freshwater mussels and the means proposed for increasing the supply was written by Professors Lefevre and Curtis of the University of Missouri, who have been and are now conducting experiments under the direction of the United States Fish Commission; also a letter from the Hon. George W. Bowers, Fish Commissioner, who highly recommends the creation of this station; which are made a part of this report:

The fresh-water clams or mussels of the United States, and similar forms from other parts of the world, exhibit a mode of development which differs from what occurs in any of their marine relatives. This difference lies in the fact that the embryo lives for a time as a parasite upon the gills or fins of fresh-water fishes, and can only develop in this parasitic condition, the life history being, briefly, as follows: The eggs of the female clam are fertilized by the sperm of the male, which enters the body of the female in the water current that brings the clam its food. These eggs begin development within the female, where they are contained in sacks formed by the animal's gill. Development proceeds as far as a stage known as the glochidium (Pl. ia), which has the two halves of a miniature shell and looks much like a gaping clam shell, but which has none of the internal organs necessary for the life which the adult clam leads in the mud of the bottom.

The glochidia are shed out of the parent as they become ripe and they fall to the bottom, where having no power of locomotion, they remain motionless unless washed about by the currents. Experiments prove that they will die before many days when left in this condition. If, however, the glochidium chances to come in contact with the fins or gills of a fish, which brushes against the silt of the bottom, it fastens itself, and within twenty-four hours has caused the skin of the fish to grow over it, so that the young mussel is completely imbedded within the living tissue of the fish. In this condition it rests securely, receiving its food from the blood of its host, and leading a truly parasitic existence for some months. During this period the glochidium changes until all the organs of the adult are developed, though it has not increased in size. At the end of its parasitic existence, when the organs are fully formed, the young clam effects the tissue of the fish in such a way that the skin opens and the young clam drops to the bottom, where it begins the life which it will lead throughout the remainder of its existence.

The attachment to a fish is entirely a matter of chance, but where mussels and fish are abundant it must often occur under natural conditions, as is seen from the examination of fish taken in nature. Still the fishes thus infected will almost never be found carrying as many of the parasites as they can without serious injury. If the fish are taken and placed in a tub or bucket of water containing large numbers of glochidia, which have been obtained from removing them from the ripe mussel, it is possible to cause the attachment of hundreds of the parasites for every one that would be found there by the chance of nature. A fish under 6 inches in length may thus be made to carry several hundred glochidia, and thus a thousand fish artificially infected may do the work of several hundred thousand in a state of nature.

Experiments with small numbers of fish under observation in the laboratory indicate that their infection on a large scale is entirely possible, and the experiment now in progress at La Crosse, in which over 25,000 young fish have thus been infected, gives every indication that such work may be begun even with the scanty knowledge we now possess.

While there is ample reason to believe in the eventual success of such work in keeping up the supply of mussels, and while the steady decline of the beds demands some such remedial measures, if the supply is to be maintained for more than a very few years, we are not yet in a position to proceed safely with this work, because we are still ignorant of many fundamental scientific facts. For example, we do not know the exact breeding seasons of any one of the button mussels. We do not know what fish are best adapted to carrying the glochidia of each species, nor what are the best methods for work on a large scale. These facts can be ascertained if proper facilities for work are provided, and they must be ascertained before the process of artificial propagation can be established on a sound basis. But since many of them can only be learned by the actual experience of attempting artificial propagation on a large

scale, the investigation and propagation must go hand in hand. To carry on such work properly, there is necessary a station properly equipped with boats and a steamer for the wholesale collecting and transporting of fish and mussels alive to the tanks and ponds of the station where the infection could be performed.

Nature is prodigal with the supply of glochidia, but so great is the chance against any ever fastening themselves upon the fish and against any ever dropping from the fish to a place on the bottom where they can succeed in the struggle for life that, with the added destruction of hundreds of millions of shells each year for commercial purposes, we may easily exterminate before many years the forms upon which the button industry depends. If we can discover the places in the life history where the waste is greatest and aid the species at those critical stages, there is every reason to hope that the supply of mussels can be made to equal if not surpass the numbers existing when the first button was cut.

Legislation against fishing must also be made use of as soon as we know enough of the habits and breeding seasons to propose measures that are likely to be a real protection. Until then all such laws should be discouraged, however strong may be the wishes of the manufacturers or others to preserve any local supply. We are as likely to do harm as good in the making of such laws without adequate knowledge, and the revision of bad laws would probably be more difficult than the passage of new ones. In conclusion, we may say that the parasitism on the fish makes the propagation of mussels go hand in hand with the propagation of our fresh-water fishes, since the fish is in no wise injured by the presence of the parasites. When we liberate a hundred fish, each loaded with its hundreds of glochidia, we not only sow the clams broadcast on the bottom, but we are also distributing fish which, when their work for the clams is done, are just as useful as though they had never known such an experience. Wholesale infection gives every promise of success, but the means must be provided at once for work on a large scale, and unless something radical is soon accomplished the making of buttons from our fresh-water shells is doomed.

The following table shows the number of wage-earners engaged in the manufacture of pearl buttons and the capital invested in such factories:

Comparative summary-Fresh-water pearl buttons and button blanks, by States: 1905 and 1900.

1900 122

1, 109, 572 117

85,646

United States. 1905 150 $3,231,379 385 $276, 4915, 085 $1, 621, 669

$319, 593 $1,911, 187 a$4, 926, 458 89,414

3,574 | 1,147, 252

940, 838

2,766, 053

Included in "All other States" in 1905.

d Includes establishments distributed as follows: Arkansas, 3; Massachusetts, 2; Minnesota, 1; Mis sissippi, 1; Nebraska, 1; Tennessee, 1.

Includes establishments distributed as follows: Arkansas, 1; California, 2; Minnesota, 2; Nebraska, 2

An unofficial statement of the pearl industry for the year of 1906 is also submitted.

Fresh-water pearl button industry report, 1906.

Expended for paper boxes, cards, silver foil, etc..

Amount of crushed shell waste material used for chicken feed, 30,726

tons, at $5.50 per ton...

Amount of money paid in wages.

Amount of money paid for shells.

HELP AND WAGES.

$1,488, 200

5,650,000

25, 200, 000

5,481,000

169,000

335,000

3, 450, 000

737,280

3,000 cutters (male), $14 average wages per week 1,800 operators (female), $8 average wages per week

600 employed as foremen, $18 average wages per week. Manager, salesmen, buyers, office force.

1,000 employed at home sewing buttons (female)

42,000

14, 200

10, 800

3,000 69,000 3,450,000

Estimated 3,000 clammers working five months in the year, average amount received by each man for year's work, besides amount received for pearls, etc., for year..

Freight paid for shells for year.

$204.50 120,000.00

These tables do not indicate the amount received from the sale of pearls and baroques which are found in these fresh-water mussels, and it is probable that they would amount to the value of more than a million dollars annually. It will be also observed from these tables that the Wabash River, near which this station is to be established, produces more tons of shells than any other river of the United States. And the committee believes that if this station was established near the Wabash River that within a few years the supply of fresh-water mussels would be very much increased. In the light of all these facts the committee recommends the passage of the bill.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR,

BUREAU OF FISHERIES, Washington, February 23, 1909.

SIR: Replying to your inquiry asking for information regarding the manufacture of pearl buttons in this country, there is inclosed herewith a circular recently issued by the National Association of Pearl Button Manufacturers of the United States, which will give you the information desired.

Since this circular was issued the industry has continued to utilize in the neighborhood of 50,000 tons of shells annually, with an annual output of about $6,000,000 worth of buttons and other products.

The Wabash River has been one of the most productive streams, the shells obtained from it being of a very high quality. The supply of shells, however, in that stream is now practically exhausted. GEO. M. BOWERS, Commissioner.

Respectfully,

Hon. M. D. FOSTER,