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Show MUSSELS TO BE CULTIVATED Adequate Supply of Raw Material for the Pearl-Button Industry Is Object Sought. An Important step toward insuring an adequate supply of raw material for the pearl-button Industry is being made by the United States bureau of fisheries, which, for the first time in history, is cultivating fresh-water mussels mus-sels during the entire first year of their growth. The activity of mussel cul-turlsts cul-turlsts heretofore has been confined to getting the young bivalves well started start-ed in life, during the brief period when they attach themselves to the gills and fins of fish. Now, however, as a check upon the effectiveness of their work, the fish will be kept in large wooden troughs until the mussels drop oft, after af-ter which the latter will be retained In the wooden tanks for a year, the better to observe and facilitate their growth. The mussels will then be planted in their natural environment to complete their life cycle. Popular Mechanics Magazine. |