Sandro Colli Vignarelli wrote:
>
> Dear Whitney,
> some news from Italy: byssal threads of Pinna can be used to obtain a
> smooth, sericeus and brown-golden tissue called "sea-silk"; till XVIII
> century people living along the coast of Sicily, Calabria, city of Taranto
> (south of Italy) and Malta used this tissue to make gloves, ties, etc...
> I have heard also that the one of Mitilus were used to make ropes, but I
> have no scientific confirmation of it.
> Ciao
> Sandro
 
Might be an interesting solution to those mussels that have invaded and
clogged the Great Lakes.  Financial incentives usually speed up solution
acquisition.  Last I heard these mussels were still a significant
problem up there.  Michael