Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-23
CLAM BUTTONS.
Rapid Growth of "a New Industry on
the mississippi.

From the Chicago Chronicle.
Ever since the white man settled along
the banks Of the Mississippi river the small
boy has found pleasure in hunting for
fresh water CLANS. OF all the dozen or
more varieties none have acquired the
fame Of that one known TO the hunter as
niger head" Now the boy until within
a few years-less than half a score, in
fact-never knew that the she'll of this
clam WAS worth much more than the bitter
and s-ringy flesh. He did NOT realize that
when he smashed the shell TO get at the
clam he was destroying a commercial COM
modify worth from 81 10 SO a ton. Yet
such was the case.
Several Of the varieties found in the big
river and its numerous sIoughs are useful
in the manufacture of buttons Others
which lack the requisite thickness for
button work can be and are used in max
ing the pearl covers for pocket books and
prayer books. Today the small boy is not
alone in his predatory deScents upon the
truCUleut clam. For he il known that Mr..
Clam is savage of habit. and will bite upon
an iron hook and decline To loose his hold
even II Withdrawn from his native element.
S.X or seven years ago an expert pearl
button maker from Vienna, the birthplace
of the industry, was d guest on Mlssis-
sippi river boat. one of the other guests
left the boat and walked to a sandy bank
and dug up big clam. He broke open the
look at the shell. then looked closer. and
decided that it would make as good buttons
as any shell dug up from the Danube or
wherever else they procure them over in
Austria. This was the beginning of the
clam hunts along the big river, where
money and not Idle sport is the moving i'm
pulse.
Up to the time Of the accession of Presi-
dent Mckinley every pearl button which
adorned the raiment Of an American was
an imported button. Then Americans COM
menced to import the shells and manufac-
ture buttons. Then this Viennese expert
revealed his secret and there was furry
in clans along the Father Of Waters. I'M
ported shells. owing TO the tariff regula-
tiCns, cost a manufacturer something like
81 cents a pound. When il is remembered
that one shell may weigh a pound the
majority fraction. and also yield but one
or two buttons, some idea of the expense
of impOTtaJiOns can be CLEANED.
So this man caused II to be made known
that he would buy good clam shells In ton
lots. II is now quite an industry, as any
one can see for himself if he Will sail the
river from near Memphis to La Crosse. He
will see hundreds of families eagerly fish
ing for mussels and piling up the shells for
sale.
Along the river are shacks in scores
Families live in them Near by outside are
long trOughs filled with water. Huge Caul-
dr0ns are mounted on stone foundations,
and the shells are taken away by parbOil
ing. Just enough heat Is generated to kill
the clans. Punts. Old fashioned snub
nused and blunt Sterned puntS, are on the
river and in the sIoughs. y trap made of
heavy Caspipe is placed over each punt.
Lines set at siX-inCh intervals are strung
TO the pipe. which runs fore and aft. Four
prouged hooks made Of old wire are fas-
tened 70 the lines. Then the punt is pushed
out into the river and the fishing begins.
Mr.. clam points his nose upstream, and
invariably keeps his mouth open. He lies
on the bottom Of the river waiting for
something to come his way. when he will
seize upon II. II is a tradition along the
river that clam Is like turtle in tenacity