Harvesting the River: Archives: : Crowfoot hook -- Illinois State Museum


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Crowfoot hook
The crowfoot hook was one of the most important devices used by mussel gatherers. They twisted two pieces of heavy gauge wire and turned the ends up. When 150 of these 4-inch hooks were tied to a metal rod and dragged across the river bottom, the mussels, disturbed, instinctively clamped shut on the dull hooks. This enabled musselers to collect shells from deep beds.

Illustration by Kathrine Hammersley.

<b>Crowfoot hook</b><br>The crowfoot hook was one of the most important devices used by mussel gatherers. They twisted two pieces of heavy gauge wire and turned the ends up. When 150 of these 4-inch hooks were tied to a metal rod and dragged across the river bottom, the mussels, disturbed, instinctively clamped shut on the dull hooks. This enabled musselers to collect shells from deep beds.