Turning Washington's Lakes into a Pearl Button Empire
Professor Trevor Kincaid argues that Washington's fresh water lakes are perfectly suited to revolutionize the American button trade.
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The Pacific Northwest might easily become an important factor in the pearl button trade if it would give attention to the propagation of the pearl mussel in its fresh waters, according to Prof. Trevor Kincaid of the University of Washington. Seattle, in particular, because of its fresh water lakes, is admirably adapted to the development of the industry and could become the pearl button port of the world. All the factors that have produced, in the Mississippi valley, the enormous quantity of mussels whose shells are suitable for button making are found here. The pearl mussel of North America is a fresh water creature and could be propagated ideally in the lakes and rivers of this section. Professor Kincaid has suggested to various eastern button manufacturers the transplanting of the Mississippi mussel, and they have considered it feasible. The present fields are being rapidly exhausted, due to extensive dredging. On the other hand, the mussel native to this coast is unfit for use because of its thin shell. Transplanting seems necessary. The manufacturers realize that something must be done immediately, and it is probable that before long they will use our lakes and streams for their supplies. The economic importance of such a step would be considerable.
“The manufacturers realize that something must be done immediately, and it is probable that before long they will use our lakes and streams for their supplies.”
While Washington never became the 'pearl button port of the world,' Kincaid's proposal highlights the era's frantic attempt to manage resources before depletion set in. Today, we still wrestle with the introduction of invasive species—often with much less optimistic results than the professor's button-making scheme.
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