Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1916 — MUSSEL SHELLS SELL FOR $26.50 [ARTICLE]

MUSSEL SHELLS SELL FOR $26.50

Present Price Is the Largest in the History of the Industry, Owing to the War. Covington, Ind., July 24.—*The 22 mussel diggers of Covington this year are receiving the largest price in local history for their shells, be ing paid $26.50 a ton. The price heretofore has never risen above | S2O, and has usually been below that mark. This industry here is considerable. In 1914 it brought something near $4,000 to Covington. There were 167 tons of shell shipped out, and several pearls and slugs of considerable value found by river men. Last year’s production was curtailed w6en the markets slumped, a condition attributed to the war. Only 124 tons had been shipped when the price dropped, and little digging was done afterward. The shell industry, which flourishes along several rivers of the nation, has undergone a considerable chang° since the outbreak of the war. Be fore the great conflict most of the shells went to Europe where part of

the work was done on them before they were returned to America to be nuuie into finished buttons, knife handles, etc. Xpw they arc handled throughout in this country.