The River

Title: Man Gathering Clams
Type: Photograph
Date: 1887
Source: Goodhue County Historical Society

Description: Clamming was a popular activity on the Mississippi River near Red Wing during the 1800s.

Activities:

1. Why do you think this man would be gathering clams? What could clams be used for?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: Clams were a popular industry on the Mississippi River near Red Wing. Their shells were used for jewelry items, and inlaid items such as pocket knives as wellas to make buttons for clothes. They are also searched for pearls.
2. What other products or industries could a town like Red Wing get from the river?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: Fish, barge transportation and recreational boating are all benefits thatthe river could provide for a town like Red Wing.
3. Do you think the man in this photograph was clamming as a hobby or as a way to make a living?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: He was most likely clamming to make money. Shells could besold to the nearby button factory, and any pearls the fisherman found could also bring a profit.
4. Why do you think the man is using a flat-bottomed boat to catch clams?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: Clams often burrow in the mud in shallower waters and flat-bottomed boat would be less likely to get stuck.