As the water has retreated to to levels not seen in many years things are getting exposed. The most amazing thing to me is the muscles. I have watched the increase in these creatures for the past 20 years of so with litlle thought. But with the receeding water I have found shells the size of my hand. Prior to this, the lagest I have seen are about the size of a half dollar. What stikes me as really strange is that I have not found many that fall in between the tow sizes. Lots of average size and quite few extra large. What happened to all the ones in between?
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| Name: |
ot
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| Subject: |
Muscles
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Date:
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10/16/2007 11:15:28 AM
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we noticed this too. some are really big. tons of shells on our shore line.
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| Name: |
HappyCamper
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| Subject: |
do you mean
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Date:
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10/16/2007 11:36:09 AM
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mussels?
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Brain f@rt.
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| Name: |
HappyCamper
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| Subject: |
Yes
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Date:
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10/16/2007 12:10:41 PM
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....reminds me of the time I left a message with the new secretary reminding her to give me my massages when I meant messages. Although the other would have been fine too.
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But come to think of it, these mussels look like muscles on steroids!!
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| Name: |
Maverick
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| Subject: |
Muscles vs Mussels - LTL
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Date:
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10/16/2007 12:35:58 PM
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LTL - You don't have any Muscles, so I know you meant mussels - LOL.
I too have noticed several the size of my hand, especially last weekend.
Are fresh water mussels eatable? My wife ask me this last weekend and told her I was not sure - Anyone know the answer.
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| Name: |
Pier Pressure
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| Subject: |
Muscles vs Mussels - LTL
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Date:
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10/16/2007 12:44:14 PM
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Do not eat them, they filter the water and have high concentrations of Mercury. Some fish eat them, and that is what contaminates the fish...
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| Name: |
LifeTime Laker
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| Subject: |
Muscles vs Mussels - LTL
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Date:
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10/16/2007 12:52:11 PM
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The racoons, crows and hawks are LOVING them. But PP is right about them being filters. I guess you could but I wouldn't.
I am still wondering what happened to the medium sized ones. Too bad BAJ was run off years ago. I bet he could shed some light on the subject.
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| Name: |
TotheLake
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| Subject: |
Muscles
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Date:
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10/16/2007 1:51:51 PM
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My nieces dug some up 4th July weekend and they were huge! We put 2 side by side and they were the width of a deck board. I've got a picture of them on the computer somewhere, I'll have to find them and post them.
Casey
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| Name: |
mbk
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| Subject: |
Muscles vs Mussels - LTL
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Date:
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10/16/2007 5:20:10 PM
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The medium sized mussels are harvested and used as oysters on some buffets; expecially Oriental and Spanish speaking restaurants. JUST KIDDING!!!!
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| Name: |
LifeTime Laker
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| Subject: |
Muscles vs Mussels - LTL
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Date:
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10/16/2007 5:44:16 PM
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I graduated HS with fellow that actually made a living harvesting mussell shells and selling them to a Japanese company. They were used for several different purposes, but the biggest use was jewelry. He spent about 90% of his time in Lake Guntersville. I asked him why he never came to Lake Martin. He said they grew best in dark water and Lake Martin was way to clear.
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| Name: |
8hcap
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| Subject: |
Muscles vs Mussels - LTL
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Date:
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10/16/2007 6:38:38 PM
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Don't know if they still do but the mussels in the Tenn River above Wilson dam were harvested for their high quality mother of pearl, used primarily for buttons.
The raccoons are having a feast at my waterfront. They bring the mussels right into my yard.
8
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| Name: |
LifeTime Laker
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| Subject: |
Muscles vs Mussels - LTL
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Date:
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10/16/2007 9:30:01 PM
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I am sure a lot of his went to buttons to. Not sure if he is still diving for them or not. He and his wife started a business in C'burg and I think it is taking up his time now.
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| Name: |
boataholic
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| Subject: |
Muscles vs Mussels - LTL
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Date:
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10/17/2007 2:07:59 PM
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There is probably the answer. The water wasn't dark enough in Martin until you get down to 13+ feet. I wonder if we will see a big drop in the "baby" ones after the big ones are decimated. We need to find an endangered mussel species so we can keep the lake level up.
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I collect the discarded shells and use them in some art I've been making and placing in the Lake Martin Merchantile. Theses mussels had a great article many years back in the Lake Martin Magazine. You can determine their age , much like the rings on trees. The large ones are around 100 yeas old if as big as your hand. They use to be an industry to the area and once the mussels were harvested , they collected and crushed the shells and sold to the Florida oyster farmers to feed the oysters to incoursge the growth of natural pearls. I'm fascinated by them!
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If any of you have volume shells along your shoreline that are empty, I would love to have them . I use all sizes.
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