Quote:
Originally Posted by Caitlin  Hi Mickyy
Isn't Billie Button from Muscatine? LINK
I am not talking about commercial harvest, but the hunt for pearls, by families in the smaller rivers and creeks. I was primarily talking about the kinds of streams and rivers people could get mussels by wading. Kunz' account details the actual finds in various rivers (pp252-278). I am talking about the 19th century when many of the Small rivers and streams were entirely depleted of mussels.
I just scanned the first page I saw and saved it: There are 26 pages of details in that section. |
Actually that area was capable of being waded across. This was pre lock and dam. Since the dams were not built until the 30's.
I don't mean to sound argumentative. I really don't. I just see that there is an assumption that has been promoted by some that Washboard and 3 ridge shells are endangered. They are not endangered species. I realize its not your fault. I have yet to read a government paper that doesn't include this threat. I am all for conservation. I am what you might call a liberal tree hugger. But I know what I know. The shells are there. And we could harvest many more shell if we could get the agencies involved to work at operating a proper shell harvest.
You shouldn't harvest the same areas year after year. There should be a limit to the amount of shells harvested. And a limited number of licenses or contracts for divers. Its not that hard to do. Its a matter of how much you want to make it work. Right now the Fish and wildlife agencies are not even willing to address it.