,the ,commonwealth of ,massachusetts4 ,a ,,report ,,upon ,,the ,,mollusk ,,fisheries ,,of ,,massachusetts4 ,illustration ,,boston3 ,,wright ,,potter ,,printing ,,co41 ,,state ,,printers1 #ah ,,post ,,office ,,square4 #aiji4 ,,approved ,,by ,,the ,,state ,,board ,,of ,,publication4 ,the ,commonwealth of ,massachusetts4 ,,commissioners ,,on ,,fisheries ,,and ,,game1 ,,state ,,house1 ,,boston1 ,jan4 #ae1 #aiji4 ,to the ,honorable ,senate and ,house of ,representatives4 ,we herewith transmit a special report upon the mollusk fisheries of ,massachusetts1 as ordered by chapter #di1 ,resolves of #aije1 relative to scallops2 chapter #gc1 ,resolves of #aije1 relative to oysters2 chapter #gh1 ,resolves of #aije1 relative to quahaugs2 and chapter #ic1 ,resolves of #aije1 relative to clams4 ,respectfully submitted1 ,g4 ,w4 ,,field1 ,chairman4 ,,report ,,on ,,the ,,mollusk ,,fisheries ,,of ,,massachusetts4 ,,introduction4 ,the general plan of the work was outlined by the chairman of the ,commission on ,fisheries and ,game1 who has given attention to such details as checking up scientific data1 editing1 revising1 and confirming results1 reports1 etc4 ,the work has been under the direct charge and personal supervision of the biologist to the commission1 ,mr4 ,d4 ,l4 ,belding4 ,the able services of ,prof4 ,j4 ,l4 ,kellogg of ,williams ,college were early enlisted1 and many valuable results which we are able to offer are the direct outcome of the practical application of the minute details discovered by ,professor ,kellogg in his careful study and original investigations of the anatomy and life histories of the lamellibranch mollusks4 ,of the other workers who1 under the direction of ,mr4 ,belding1 have contributed directly1 special mention should be made of ,mr4 ,j4 ,r4 ,stevenson of ,williams ,college1 ,w4 ,g4 ,vinal of ,harvard ,university1 ,f4 ,c4 ,lane of ,boston ,university1 ,a4 ,a4 ,perkins of ,ipswich and ,c4 ,l4 ,savery of ,marion4 ,those who have for a briefer time been identified with the work are ,r4 ,l4 ,buffum1 ,w4 ,h4 ,gates and ,k4 ,b4 ,coulter of ,williams ,college1 and ,anson ,handy of ,harvard ,university4 ,in addition to the results here given1 much valuable knowledge has been acquired1 particularly upon the life histories of the scallop and of the quahaug1 and the practical application of this knowledge to the pursuit of sea farming4 ,it is hoped that the commission will later be enabled to publish these results4 ,the present report is limited to a statement of the condition of the shellfish in each section of our coast1 and to consideration of practical methods for securing increased opportunities for food and livelihood by better utilization of naturally productive lands under water4 ,since the chief purpose of legislative action under which this work was undertaken was to ascertain how the best economic results could be secured1 we have thought it wise to embody the results of our investigation in a plan which is suggested as a basis for appropriate legislation for making possible a suitable system of shellfish cultivation similar to that which already exists in ,rhode ,island1 ,connecticut and many other coast ,states1 and which has been carried on for more than two thousand years on the shores of the ,mediterranean ,sea4 ,the following tentative outlines are offered1 and it is intended to subject each topic to an unprejudiced examination and discussion3-- ,a ,,proposed ,,system ,,of ,,culture ,,for ,,the ,,tidal ,,flats ,,and ,,waters ,,of ,,massachusetts4 ,the ,purpose4--,the proposed system of shellfish culture aims to develop the latent wealth of the tidal waters1 to increase the output of tidal flats already productive1 and to make possible the reclamation of large portions of the waste shore areas of our ,commonwealth4 ,it is further designed to foster dependent and allied industries2 to extend the shellfish market1 both wholesale and retail2 to multiply opportunities for the transient visitors and shore cottagers to fish for clams and quahaugs for family use1 and to ensure fishermen a reliable source of bait supply2 to increase the earnings of the shore fishermen1 and to furnish work to thousands of unemployed2 to increase the value of shore property2 to add to the taxable property of the shore towns and cities of the ,state2 to secure to all the citizens of the ,state a proper return from an unutilized ,state asset2 to furnish the consuming public with a greater quantity of sea food of guaranteed purity2 and in every way1 both in the utilization of present and in the creation of new resources to build up and develop the fast-declining shellfish industries of the ,commonwealth4 ,private v4 ,public ,ownership of ,tidal ,flats4--,the first difficulty confronting this proposed system is the too frequently accepted fallacy that all lands between the tide marks now are and should be held in common by the inhabitants of the shore communities1 to the exclusion of citizens from other sections of the ,state1--an assumption which is directly contrary to the more ancient law1 supported by decisions of the highest courts1 that the right of taking shellfish is a public right1 freely open to any inhabitant of the ,state4 ,such unwarranted assumption of exclusive rights in the shellfisheries by individuals1 corporations or towns sacrifices the rights of the majority4 ,the disastrous effect of this policy is plainly demonstrated in the history of the rise and decline of the shellfisheries of ,massachusetts4 ,secondly1 this fallacious assumption is contrary to the fundamental principles of all economic doctrines4 ,it may be safely affirmed that the individual ownership of property has proved not only a success but even is a necessary condition of progress1 and has in fact at length become the foundation of all society4 ,it inevitably follows that if the system is justifiable in the case of farm lands it is equally justifiable in the case of the tidal flats1 for the same principle is involved in each4 ,it is therefore fair to assume that if private ownership of farm land has proved to be for the best interests of human progress1 so private ownership of the tidal flats will also be a benefit to the public4 ,it is not our purpose to discuss the underlying principle involved in private ownership of property1--it is simply our purpose to call attention to two facts3 7#a7 if individual control of real estate is just1 private ownership of tidal flats and waters is likewise just2 7#b7 that individual control of such areas is the only practical system yet devised capable of checking the alarming decline in the shellfisheries and of developing them to a normal state of productiveness1 and rendering unnecessary an annually increasing mass of restrictive legislation4 ,the ,present ,system4--,the present system of controlling the shellfisheries is based on the communal ownership of the tidal flats4 ,ownership by the ,commonwealth has degenerated into a system of town control1 whereby every coast community has entire jurisdiction over its shellfisheries1 to the practical exclusion of citizens of all other towns4 ,thus at the present time the mollusk fisheries of ,massachusetts are divided into a number of separate and disorganized units1 which are incapable of working together for the best interests of the towns or of the public4 ,this communistic system is distinctly unsound1 and is in direct opposition to the principles of social and economic development4 ,the man who advocates keeping farm lands untilled and in common1 for the sake of the few wild blackberries they might produce1 would be considered mentally unbalanced2 but it is precisely this system which holds sway over our relatively richer sea gardens4 ,with no thought of seed time1 but only of harvest1 the fertile tidal flats are yearly divested of their fast-decreasing output by reckless and ruthless exploitation1 and valuable territories when once exhausted are allowed to become barren4 ,all hopes for the morrow are sacrificed to the clamorous demands of the present4 ,the more the supply decreases1 the more insistent becomes the demand2 and the greater the demand1 the more relentless grows the campaign of spoliation4 ,the entire shore front of the ,commonwealth is scoured and combed by irresponsible aliens and by exemplars of the submerged tenth who are now but despoilers1 but who if opportunity were present might become cultivators of the flats rather than devastators4 ,the thoughtful fisherman1 who would control the industry in a measure1 is under present conditions overruled by his selfish or short-sighted fellow workers1 and is of necessity forced to join their ranks by the clinching argument that if the shellfisheries are to be ruined anyway1 he might as well have his share as long as they last4 ,the theory of public ownership of shellfisheries has been weighed in the balance and found wanting4 ,the necessity for some radical change in the present system is becoming more and more apparent1 and a system of private control1 with certain modifications1 is the logical result4 ,need of ,reform4--,the shellfish supply of ,massachusetts is steadily declining4 ,so extensive is this decline that it is unnecessary to mention the abundant proofs of almost complete exhaustion in certain localities and of failing output in others4 ,while the apparent cause of this decrease is overfishing and unsystematic digging1 the real cause can be readily traced to the present defective system of town control1 which has made possible1 through inefficiency and neglect1 the deplorable condition of this important industry4 ,unless the decline is at once checked1 within a very few years our valuable shellfisheries will be exhausted to the point of commercial extinction4 ,the legislation of former years1 essentially restrictive and prohibitory in character1 has unfortunately been constructed on a false economic basis4 ,its aim has been to protect these industries by restricting the demand rather than by increasing the supply4 ,what the future requires is not merely protective or restrictive legislation1 but rather constructive laws for developing the shellfisheries4 ,the system of shellfish culture here presented appears to be the only practical method for improving the condition of these industries in such a way as to protect all vested interests of both private and public rights1 and at the same time to make possible adequate utilization of the natural productive capacity4 ,in brief1 the proposed system of shellfish culture is based upon a system of leases to individuals4 ,these leases should be divided into two classes3 7#a7 those covering the territory between the tide lines1 and consisting of small areas1 from #a to #b acres2 7#b7 the territory below low-water mark1 comprised of two classes of grants1 which differ only in size and distance from the shore1--the smaller 7a71 from #a to #e acres1 to include the shore waters1 small bays and inlets1 and the larger 7b71 of unrestricted size1 to be given in the deeper and more exposed waters4 ,the owners of all grants shall be permitted to plant and grow all species of shellfish1 and shall have exclusive control of the fisheries area covered by such lease4 ,the large and more exposed grants1 which cannot be economically worked without considerable capital1 should be available for companies2 while the smaller holdings1 for which but small capital is required1 are restricted to the use of the individual shore fishermen4 ,for the tidal flats and shore waters but one-half of the whole territory in any one township shall be leased1 the other half still remaining public property4 ,success of this ,system4--,the system of private control by leased grants is by no means a new and untried theory4 ,in actual operation for many years in this and other ,states1 in spite of lack of protection and other drawbacks which would be eliminated from a perfected system1 it has proved an unqualified success4 ,the rapid depletion and even extermination of the native oyster beds necessitated legislative consideration1 and for years the oyster industry above and below low-water mark in this and other ,states has been dealt with by a similar system4 ,the plan here suggested would be but a direct extension of a well-tested principle towards the cultivation of other species of mollusks4 ,the financial value to the fishermen of such a step has been proved beyond all question in this ,state during the past three years by the demonstrations of the ,massachusetts department of fisheries and game4 ,these experiments have proved that tidal flats1 with small outlay of capital and labor1 will yield1 acre for acre1 a far more valuable harvest than any upland garden4 ,this system has the further element of success by being based on individual effort1 in contrast to the present communal regulation of shellfisheries4 ,in all business individual initiative and effort furnish the keynote of success1 and the future wellfare of the shellfisheries depends upon the application of this principle4 ,nature cannot without the aid and co-operation of man repair the ill-advised1 untimely and exhaustive inroads made in her resources4 ,this is shown in the thousands of acres of good farm lands made unproductive by unwise treatment1 and by the wasteful destruction of our forests4 ,it is as strikingly shown in the decline of our shellfisheries4 ,the fisherman exhausts the wealth of the flats by destroying both young and adults1 and returns nothing4 ,the result is decrease and ultimate extermination4 ,the farmer prepares his land carefully and intelligently1 plants his seed and in due time reaps a harvest4 ,if the fisherman could have similar rights over the tidal areas1 he could with far less labor and capital and with far greater certainty year by year reap a continuous harvest at all seasons4 ,the success of the leasing system in other ,states1 notably ,louisiana1 ,rhode ,island and others1 is definite and conspicuous4 ,the ,obstacles to this ,proposed ,system4--,before the proposed system of titles to shellfish ground can be put in actual operation1 it is absolutely necessary to have all rights and special privileges pertaining to shore areas revested in ,state control by repeal of certain laws4 ,in this centralization of authority four main factors must be carefully considered3 7#a7 communal rights to fisheries in tidal areas1 as in the colonial beach law of #afda-dg2 7#b7 the theory1 practice and results of town supervision and control2 7#c7 the rights of riparian owners2 7#d7 the rights of the fishermen and of all other inhabitants of the ,state4 ,so important are all four that it is necessary to discuss each in turn4 7#a7 ,communal ,fishery ,rights of the ,public4--,the fundamental principle upon which the shellfish laws of the ,state are founded is the so-called beach or free fishing right of the public4 ,while in other ,states shore property extends only to mean high water1 in ,massachusetts1 ,maine and ,virginia1 the earliest ,states to enact colonial laws1 the riparian property holders own to mean low-water mark4 ,but by specific exception and according to further provisions of this same ancient law the right of fishing 7which includes the shellfisheries7 below high-water mark is free to any inhabitant of the ,commonwealth4 ,the act reads as follows3-- ,,section #b4 ,every inhabitant who is an householder shall have free fishing and fowling in any great ponds1 bays1 coves and rivers1 so far as the sea ebbs and flows within the precincts of the town where they dwell1 unless the freemen of the same town or the ,general ,court have otherwise appropriated them4 ,it is necessary that some change be made in this law1 which at present offers no protection to the planters4 ,its repeal is by no means necessary1 as the matter can be adjusted by merely adding except for the taking of mollusks from the areas set apart and leased for the cultivation of mollusks4 7#b7 ,results of ,town ,administration of ,mollusk ,fisheries4--,all authority to control mollusk privileges was originally vested in the ,state4 ,the towns1 as the ancient statutes will show1 derived this authority from the higher ,state authority1 developed their systems of local regulations or by-laws only with the ,state permission1 and even now they enjoy the fruits of these concessions solely with the active consent of the ,legislature4 ,thus the ,state has ever been1 and is at present1 the source of town control4 ,the towns have no rights of supervision and control over shellfisheries except as derived from the ,general ,court4 ,the ,state gave them this authority in the beginning4 ,it follows1 therefore1 that the ,legislature can withdraw this delegated authority at any time when it is convinced that it is for the benefit of the ,state so to do4 ,to those few who are directly profiting at the expense of the many1 this resumption of authority by the ,state may seem at first sight a high-handed proceeding1 but a brief survey of the facts will prove it to be justly warranted and eminently desirable4 ,the present system of town control has had a sufficient trial4 ,it is in its very essentials an un-business-like proceeding4 ,a large number of towns acting in this matter as disorganized units working independently of one another could not in the nature of things evolve any co-ordinated and unified system which would be to the advantage of all4 ,the problems involved are too complicated1 requiring both broad and special knowledge1 which cannot be acquired in a short term of experience4 ,lastly1 the temptations of local politics have been found to be too insistent to guarantee completely fair allotment of valuable privileges4 ,the ,legislature has not only acted unwisely in allowing the towns in this respect thus to mismanage their affairs1 but it has not fulfilled its duty to the ,commonwealth as a whole4 ,the ,legislature has unwittingly delegated valuable sources of wealth and revenue1 the fruits of which should have been enjoyed at least in some degree1 directly or indirectly1 by all citizens of the ,commonwealth alike as well as by those of the coast towns4 ,many of the coast cities and towns have dealt with this opportunity very unwisely1 and few have developed or even maintained unimpaired this extremely valuable asset of the ,state4 ,it cannot be too strongly emphasized that such important sources of wealth as the shellfisheries are not the property of the coast towns alone2 they are the property of the whole ,commonwealth1 and the whole ,commonwealth should share in these benefits4 ,in allowing these valuable resources to be mismanaged and dissipated by the shore towns1 the ,legislature has done a great injury to all the inland communities1 and1 indeed1 even to those very coast towns for whose benefit such legislation was enacted4 ,the ,legislature was not justified1 in the first place1 in granting jurisdiction over these important industries belonging equally to the whole ,commonwealth and to the coast towns4 ,it was but an experiment4 ,inasmuch as these towns have grossly mismanaged the trust placed in them1 the ,legislature is doubly under the obligation to take advantage of the knowledge gained by this experimental delegation of the ,state authority to cities and towns4 ,the completely obvious obligation of the ,legislature is to remove what is either tacitly or frankly acknowledged by many city and town authorities to be an impossible burden upon the city or town1 and to restore to ,state officers the general administrative control and supervision of the public rights in the shellfisheries4 7#c7 ,riparian ,ownership does not include ,exclusive ,fishing ,rights4--,the third objection is that in the assumption of ,state control is involved the much-discussed and vaguely understood question of riparian ownership4 ,to make plain the conditions relative to the fisheries1 including the shellfisheries on the tidal flats1 it should be borne in mind that in only four ,states1 ,virginia and ,maryland1 ,massachusetts and ,maine1 does the title of the riparian owner extend to low-water mark1 but in these ,states the right of fishing1 fowling and boating are specifically mentioned as not included in the title4 ,under the existing laws owners of seashore property in ,massachusetts possess certain rights 7though perhaps not in all cases clearly defined7 over the tidal areas within #ajj rods of the mean high-water mark4 ,as the proposed system of shellfish grants deals with this territory between high and low water marks1 it is necessary to see in what manner1 if any1 the rights at present possessed by riparian owners would be impaired by the leasing of certain rights of fishing4 ,while the riparian owner has in a measure authority over the territory which borders his upland1 there are certain specific limitations to this authority4 ,he does not have exclusive rights of hunting1 boating and fishing between the tide lines on his own property1 but participates in these rights equally with every citizen of this ,commonwealth4 ,the courts have distinctly held that shellfish are fish1 and that a man may fish--i4e41 dig clams--on the tidal flats adjoining the shore without the consent of the riparian owner4 7#d7 ,rights of the ,fishermen and of ,all ,citizens4--,the fishermen as a class are best located to benefit most from an opportunity to lease exclusive fishing rights1 whether they chance to be riparian owners or not1 though every other citizen of this ,commonwealth who so desired would not be excluded from an opportunity to secure a similar lease4 ,the personnel of the fisher class has vastly changed in the past decade4 ,there are to-day two distinct types3 ,the permanent resident1 usually native born1 bound to a definite locality by ties of home and kin and of long association1--a most useful type of citizen4 ,contrasted with this is the other1 a more rapidly increasing class1--foreign born1 unnaturalized1 nomadic1 a humble soldier of fortune1 a hanger-on in the outskirts of urban civilization1 eking out an existence by selling or eating the shellfish from the public fishing grounds4 ,too ignorant to appreciate the importance of sanitary precaution1 the alien clammer haunts the proscribed territory polluted by sewage1 and does much to keep the dangerous typhoid germ in active circulation in the community4 ,the public mollusk fisheries only foster such types of non-producers1 and prevent them from becoming desirable citizens4 ,the best class of fishermen and citizens has no advantage over the worst1 but is practically compelled to engage in the same sort of petty buccaneering and wilfully destructive digging1 in order to prevent that portion and privilege of fishing which the law says shall belong to every householder and freeman of the ,commonwealth from being appropriated by these humble freebooters1 who are at once the annoyance1 the terror and the despair of cottagers and shore dwellers4 ,all these conditions would be almost completely corrected by the lease of the flats to individuals1 thus removing from the fishermen stultifying competition and compelling these irresponsible wandering aliens to acquire definite location4 ,but most particularly a system of leasing would permit each person to profit according to his industry1 perseverance1 thrift and foresight4 ,the ,grants4--,as previously stated1 the grants should be made into two divisions3 7#a7 including suitable areas between the high and low water marks2 7#b7 territory below mean low-water mark4 ,the privilege of planting and growing all shellfish should be given for both classes of grants4 ,class #a would be primarily for the planting of clams1 with additional rights over oysters and quahaugs2 class #b would be primarily for the planting of quahaugs and oysters1 with possible rights over clams and scallops4 ,the grants should be leased for a limited period of years1 with the privilege of renewal provided the owner had fulfilled the stipulated requirements of the lease4 ,in order1 however1 that these leases should not degenerate into deeds1 to be handed down from father to son1 it might be necessary to assign a maximum time limit during which a man might remain in control of any particular lease4 ,this would be merely fair play to all concerned1 for it would not be just to allow one man to monopolize a particularly fine piece of property1 while his equally deserving neighbor had land of far less productive value4 ,in connection with this clause should follow some provisions for payment of the value of improvements4 ,should there be more than one claimant for lease of any particular area1 some principle of selection1 such as priority of application1 highest bid1 etc41 should be established4 ,that there may be no holding of grants for purposes other than those stipulated in the agreement1 there should be a certain cultural standard of excellence to be decided upon relative to the use made of the granted areas4 ,a clause of this kind is necessary in order to keep the system in a proper state of efficiency1 and to insure the development of the shellfish industries4 ,all taxes on the capital invested in these grants and taxes upon the income should go to the town in which the leasehold is situated4 ,in addition1 there should be a just and equable revenue assessed by the ,state on every grant1 as rent for the same4 ,this rent should be apportioned according to a fixed scale in determining the relative values of the grants1 and should be paid annually1 under penalty of forfeiture4 ,the revenue might be divided into two parts3 one part to go to the ,state department having the control of the shellfisheries1 for the maintenance of a survey1 control and protection of property on leased areas1 and other work2 the second part to go to the town treasury of the community in which the grant is located1 to be expended under the direction and control of responsible ,state officials in restocking barren flats and otherwise developing the shellfish upon its unleased territory which is open for free public use4 ,grants to be ,nontransferable4--,these grants1 while designed for the use of all citizens of the ,commonwealth1 should be made especially available for the poor man with little capital4 ,in order to assure the poor man of the enjoyment of his privilege1 it is necessary to guard against the possibility of undue monopolization4 ,leases must1 therefore1 be strictly nontransferable4 ,neither should areas be rented to another individual under any consideration whatever4 ,every grant must be for the benefit of its individual owner4 ,he should be at liberty to hire laborers to assist him in working his grant1 but not to transfer it in any way4 ,any attempt on his part to do so should not only immediately result in the forfeiture of his grant1 but should also subject him to a heavy penalty4 ,survey4--,in order to guard against confusion and to maintain an orderly system1 an accurate survey of all granted areas should be made4 ,the ranges of every grant should be determined and recorded4 ,the plots should be numbered and properly staked or buoyed1 and a record of the same1 giving the name of the owner1 yearly rental and value1 should be kept on file at the proper town and ,state offices4 ,the same system which is now in operation in the oyster industry of other ,states should be applied to all the mollusk fisheries of ,massachusetts4 ,administration4--,the department of the ,state government under whose jurisdiction this system of leases may come should be indued with full authority1 properly defined1 to supervise the grants1 furnish them with adequate protection by the employment of ,state or town police1 oversee the survey1 allot the grants1 and to exercise such other powers as may be necessary to develop the system1 remedy its defects and strengthen its efficiency4 ,protection of ,property and of the ,rights granted by the ,lease4--,no system of shellfish grants is possible without absolute protection4 ,the lessee must be permitted to cultivate his grant free from outside interference1 and thus1 with reasonably good fortune1 he can enjoy the fruits of his labors4 ,this protection1 which is the greatest and most vital need of the entire system1 and the foundation upon which depends its whole success1 must be insured by proper legislation rigorously enforced1 and accompanied by severe penalties4 ,leasing of the ,grants4--,every citizen of the ,commonwealth is entitled to participate in this system1 but for obvious reasons an inhabitant of any coast town should be given first choice of grants within the boundary of his particular town4 ,the first grants might be given by allotment1 but after the system had become well established1 they could be issued in the order of their application4 ,water ,pollution4--,the sanitary condition of the marketed shellfish taken from contaminated waters is not only at present to some extent endangering the public health1 but is placing an undeserved stigma upon a most reputable and valuable source of food supply for the public4 ,the public should demand laws closing1 after proper scientific investigation1 these polluted areas1 and conferring the power to thoroughly enforce such laws4 ,the danger arising from contamination should be reduced to a minimum by prescribing some definite regulations for transferring shellfish from these polluted waters to places free from contamination1 where the shellfish may in brief season be rendered fit for the market4 ,it should be unlawful to use any brand1 label or other device for designation1 intended to give the impression that certain oysters offered for sale were grown at specified places1 e4g41 ,cotuit1 ,wellfleet1 ,wareham1 etc41 unless such oysters were actually planted1 grown or cultivated within the towns or waters designated1 for a period of at least three months immediately previous to the date of marketing4 ,furthermore1 there should be appointed proper inspectors1 whose duties would be to guarantee by certificates1 labels and stamps the purity of shellfish placed upon the market1 and likewise have the power of enforcing severe penalties on violators4 ,,the ,,shellfisheries ,,of ,,massachusetts3 ,,their ,,present ,,condition ,,and ,,extent4 ,by ,d4 ,l4 ,,belding1 assisted by ,f4 ,c4 ,,lane4 ,,dr4 ,,george ,w4 ,,field1 ,chairman1 ,commission on ,fisheries and ,game4 ,,sir3--,i herewith submit the following report upon the present extent and condition of the shellfish industries of ,massachusetts4 ,the following biological survey was made in connection with the work done under chapters #di1 #gc1 #gh and #ic1 ,resolves of #aije1 and chapter #gd1 ,resolves of #aijf4 ,the statistics and survey records which furnish the basis of the report were obtained by ,d4 ,l4 ,belding and ,f4 ,c4 ,lane4 ,respectfully submitted1 ,,david ,l4 ,,belding1 ,biologist4 ,,introduction4 ,when money was first appropriated in #aije for a three-year investigation of the life1 habits and methods of culture of the clam1 quahaug1 oyster and scallop1 provision was made for a survey of the present productive and nonproductive areas suitable for the cultivation of these four shellfish4 ,the following report embodies the results of this survey4 ,a4 ,method of ,work4--,in making this survey two objects were in view1 which permit the grouping of the work under two main heads3-- 7#a7 ,a survey of the productive and nonproductive shellfish areas of the ,state was undertaken1 showing by charts the location1 extent and abundance of each of the four shellfish1 as well as the biological conditions of the waters and soils of the areas along the entire coast which could be made more productive under proper cultural methods4 ,wherever possible1 information as to the production of certain areas was obtained from the shellfishermen as a supplement to the survey work4 7#b7 ,statistical records of the four shellfish industries were formulated1 showing their value and extent as regards 7a7 production1 7b7 capital invested1 7c7 men employed4 ,data for these records were obtained from town records1 from market reports and from the dealers and shellfishermen1 both by personal interviews and by tabulated forms of printed questions4 ,owing to the present chaotic condition of the shellfisheries1 it has been impossible to obtain absolutely exact data4 ,the statistics that have been obtained are to all purposes correct1 and are the most exact figures ever published on the subject4 ,b4 ,value of the ,survey4--,before any reform measures of practical value can be advanced1 accurate and comprehensive knowledge of the present shellfish situation in ,massachusetts is absolutely essential4 ,up to this time there have been only vague and inaccurate conjectures as to the value of the shellfisheries1 and even the fisherman1 outside his own district1 has little knowledge of their extent and their economic possibilities4 ,the consumer has far less knowledge4 ,for the first time this problem of the ,massachusetts shellfisheries has been approached from the point of view of the economic biologist4 ,this survey is intended to present a concise yet detailed account of the present status of the shellfisheries of ,massachusetts1 and is therefore the first step towards the preservation of our shellfisheries by providing a workable basis for the restocking of the barren and unproductive areas4 ,it is hoped that it will be of interest both to the fishermen and consumers4 ,c4 ,presentation of the ,report4--,the first part of the report presents the general results of the survey1 i4e41 the present condition of the shellfisheries1 while the second part deals directly with details of the survey4 ,the report is divided into four parts1 each shellfish being considered separately4 ,under each is grouped 7#a7 the industry as a whole2 7#b7 a statistical summary of the industry for the whole ,state2 7#c7 the towns of the ,state and their individual industries4 ,a series of charts showing the shellfish areas of the ,state makes clear the description of the survey4 ,geographical ,situation4--,the peculiar geographical situation of ,massachusetts renders possible the production of the four edible shellfish--clam1 oyster1 quahaug and scallop1--in great abundance4 ,cape ,cod forms the dividing line between the northern and the southern fauna1 which furnish the coast of ,massachusetts with a diversity of molluscan life4 ,zologically1 the ,massachusetts coast is the point where the habitats of the northern 7the soft clam1 ,mya arenaria7 and the southern clam 7the quahaug1 hard clam or little neck1 ,venus mercenaria7 overlap4 ,nature has favored ,massachusetts with a coast indented with bays1 estuaries and inlets which are especially adapted for the growth of marine food mollusks4 ,former ,natural ,abundance4--,if we compare the natural shellfish areas of to-day with those of former years1 we find a great change4 ,all four shellfish formerly throve in large numbers in the numerous bays and indentations of our coast line4 ,the area between tide marks was formerly inhabited by quantities of soft clams1 and the muddy patches just below low-water mark produced great numbers of quahaugs4 ,in the estuaries were extensive natural oyster beds4 ,on our shoals it was possible to gather many thousand bushels of scallops4 ,now thousands of acres once productive lie barren1 and we have but a remnant of the former abundant yield4 ,historical ,wastefulness4--,history tells us that the ,pilgrims at ,plymouth sucked the abundance of the seas and found health and wealth4 ,but between the lines of history we can read a tale of wastefulness and prodigality with hardly a parallel1 and to-day we find the natural heritage of the shellfisheries almost totally wasted through the careless indifference of our forefathers4 ,prof4 ,james ,l4 ,kellogg1 in the introduction to his ,notes on ,marine ,food ,mollusks of ,louisiana1 gives the following excellent account of the exploiting of natural resources3-- ,as one looks over the record of the settling of this country1 and notes how a continent was reclaimed from a state of nature1 he can hardly fail to be impressed with the reckless wastefulness of his ancestors in their use of the treasures which nature1 through eons of time1 had been collecting4 ,in thousands of cases1 natural resources1 which1 carefully conserved1 would have provided comfort and even luxury for generations of men1 have been dissipated and destroyed with no substantial benefit to any one4 ,they scattered our inheritance4 ,such knowledge dulls a feeling of gratitude that may be due to them for their many beneficent acts1--though the truth probably is that few of them ever had a thought of their descendants4 ,men seldom seem to have a weighty sense of responsibility toward others than those who immediately follow them4 ,the history of the prodigality of our ancestors since their occupation of this great continent has not fully been written1--and it should be1 in such a way that the present generation might know it2 for sometimes it seems as if the present generation were as criminally careless of the natural resources that remain to it as were any of those that are gone4 ,perhaps it is hardly that4 ,we have learned some wisdom from the past1 because our attention has recently been drawn to the fact of the annihilation of several former sources of subsistence4 ,rapidly in ,america1 in recent years1 the struggle to obtain support for a family has become more severe to the wage earner4 ,in thirty years the increasing fierceness of competition has resulted in a revolution of business methods4 ,in every profession and in every line of business only the most capable are able to obtain what the mediocre received for their honest labor in the last generation4 ,but it is easier to condemn the past for its failures than to recognize and condemn those of our own generation4 ,the average man really has a blind and unreasoning faith in his own time1 and to laud only its successes is to be applauded as an optimist4 ,in the present stage of our national life we certainly have no room for the pessimist1 who is merely a dyspeptic faultfinder2 nor for the optimist1 who blinds his eyes to our faults and mistakes1 and so fails to read their priceless lessons4 ,instead1 our intelligence1 as a race1 has reached that degree of development which should give it the courage to consider things as they are4 ,considering things as they are1 we must admit that we are not realizing our obligations to future generations in many of the ways in which we are misusing our natural resources4 ,this waste is often deliberate1 though usually due to the notion that nature's supplies1 especially of living organisms1 are limitless4 ,the waste of #gj or #hj per cent1 in lumbering the ,oregon big trees1 and the clean sweep of the ,louisiana pine1 now in progress1 is deliberately calculated destruction for present gain1--and the future may take care of itself4 ,in making millionaires of a very few men1 most of whom are still living1 a large part of the lower peninsula of ,michigan was made a hopeless desert4 ,to cut and come again is not a part of the moral codes of such men4 ,it seems to mean sacrifice2 and yet they are woefully mistaken1 even in that4 ,but most often1 no doubt1 the extinction of useful animals and plants1 that we have so often witnessed1 has been due to the ignorant assumption that1 under any circumstances1 the supply would last forever4 ,this idea seems especially to prevail concerning marine food animals4 ,the fact that the sea is vast might naturally give the impression that its inhabitants are numberless4444 ,but when a natural food supply nears complete annihilation1 men begin to think of the necessity of a method of artificial culture4#a ,present ,unimproved ,resources4--,in spite of the wastefulness of former generations1 many areas can again be made to produce the normal yield if proper and adequate measures are promptly taken to restore to the flats1 estuaries and bays of ,massachusetts their normal productive capacity4 ,in spite of the fact that some of the natural beds have entirely disappeared1 either fished out or buried under the dbris of civilization1 and others are in imminent danger of becoming exhausted1 ,massachusetts still possesses a sufficient natural supply to restock most of these barren areas4 ,possibilities of ,development4--,opportunities for development are alluring4 ,the shellfisheries could be increased1 in these days of rapid transit and marketing facilities1 into industries which would furnish steady employment for thousands of men and women1 both directly and indirectly1 resulting in a product valued at a minimum of #c1jjj1jjj annually1 with possibilities of indefinite expansion4 ,at present the idea of marine farming attracts popular attention4 ,the conditions are parallel to agriculture1 except that in the case of marine farming the crops are more certain1--i4e41 are not subject to so many fatalities4 ,the experiments of the ,department of ,fisheries and ,game for the past three years have proved that cultivation of shellfish offers great inducements and profit to both individuals and towns4 ,when the present waste areas are again made productive1 the value of the annual catch should be increased tenfold4 ,statistical ,summary of the ,shellfisheries for #aijg4 ,,production4 ,,name ,,of ,,mollusk4 -------------------- ,area in ,capital ,men ,bushels4 ,value4 ,acres4 invested4 employed4 ---------------------------------------- --------------------------- ,clam1 #aec1hfe #aej1ddj #e1aaa #ah1adb #a1cfa ,oyster1 #afa1ahb #agf1adb #b1djj #bfh1gjb #aei ,quahaug1 #add1jdd #aid1fhg #bh1jij #id1bfj #gde ,scallop1 #ajc1jjj #afd1dcf #cj1ijj #aba1gec #fdg ---------------------------------------- ---------- ,total1 #efb1jia #fhe1gje #ff1eja #ejb1heg #b1iab ,in the above table the areas for the scallop1 clam and quahaug are only approximate4 ,the scallop and quahaug fisheries cover nearly the same areas1 and employ to a great extent the same men and capital4 ,annual ,yields 7in ,bushels7 of the ,shellfisheries of ,massachusetts since #ahgi1 from ,united ,states ,fish ,commission ,reports4 ,,year4 ,clam4 ,quahaug4 ,oyster4 ,scallop4 ,totals4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------- #ahgi1 #aeh1fba #aa1jej #cf1jjj #aj1edb #baf1bah #ahhg1 #bcj1fei #ce1edj #dc1ahc #da1ifd #cea1cdf #ahhh1 #bdc1ggg #bf1afe #de1fca #bf1afh #cda1gda #ahih1 #adg1jie #fc1hag #aja1bbe #abh1hfc #dda1jjj #aijb1 #bbg1ida #ajf1hah #ajc1chf #ff1aej #ejd1bie #aije1 #bag1eai #aff1ebf #aab1ehj #dc1hgb #edj1dig #aijg1b #aec1hfe #add1jdd #afa1ahb #ajc1jjj #efb1jia ,massachusetts fishermen to-day receive an annual income of #fhe1gje from the shellfisheries1 which approximately cover a productive area of #dj1jjj acres4 ,under the present methods of production1 the average value per acre is only #ag2 each acre1 if properly farmed1 should furnish an annual production of at least #ajj1 or six times the present yield4 ,the shellfish areas of ,massachusetts which are at present utilized are giving almost a minimum production1 instead of the enormous yield which they are capable of furnishing4 ,all that is necessary to procure the maximum yield is the application of systematic cultural methods1 instead of relying on an impoverished natural supply4 ,not only are the productive areas furnishing far less than they are capable of producing1 but also ,massachusetts possesses #f1jjj acres of barren flats1 which should become1 under the proper cultural methods1 as valuable as the productive areas4 7,this has been experimentally demonstrated by the commission47 ,while it is possible to develop1 through cultural methods1 these latent natural resources1 it will take years to bring them to a high degree of development4 ,it can be partially accomplished1 at least1 in the next few years1 and the present production increased several times1 as nature responds to the slightest intelligent effort of man1 and gives large returns4 ,,decline ,,of ,,the ,,shellfisheries4 ,a4 ,is there a ,decline8 7#a7 ,so obvious is the general decline of the shellfisheries that almost every one is aware1 through the increasing prices and difficulty of supplying the demand1 that the natural supply is becoming exhausted4 7#b7 ,statistical figures of the shellfish production not only show a decline1 but conceal a rapid diminution of the supply4 7#c7 ,production statistics alone should never be taken as typifying the real conditions of an industry1 as such figures are often extremely deceiving4 ,for instance3-- 7#d7 ,the increased prices1 stimulated by an increasing demand1 have caused a greater number of men1 equipped with the best modern implements1 to swell the production by overworking shellfish areas which in reality are not one-fourth so productive as they were ten years ago4 ,while the general decline of the shellfisheries is a matter of public knowledge1 specific illustrations of this decline have been lacking4 ,the present report calls attention to actual facts as proofs of the decline of each shellfishery1 by a comparison of the present conditions in various localities with the conditions of #ahgi4 ,the only past record of ,massachusetts shellfisheries of any importance is found in the report of the ,united ,states ,fish ,commission for #ahhc1 and1 although this is very limited1 it is sufficient to furnish many examples of the extinction or decline of the shellfisheries in certain localities4 ,in a general consideration of the shellfisheries1 it is noticeable that in certain localities the extinction of the industry has been total1 in others only partial1 while others have remained unchanged or have even improved4 ,this last class is found either where the natural advantages are so great that the resources have not been exploited1 or where men have1 through wise laws and cultural methods 7as in the oyster industry71 preserved and built up the shellfisheries4 #ahgi v4 #aijg4--;,in comparing the present condition of the shellfisheries with that of #ahgi1 it will be seen that many changes have taken place4 ,even twenty-five years ago inroads were being made upon the natural supply2 from that time to the present can be traced a steady decline4 ,during the past five years the production has been augmented by additional men1 who have entered into the business under the attraction of higher prices1 and the extension of the quahaug and oyster fisheries4 ,though the annual catch is greater1 a disproportionately greater amount of time1 labor and capital is required to secure an equal quantity of shellfish4 #aijg4 #ahgi4 ,gain4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ,production 7bushels71 #efb1iia #bfd1hah #big1bgc ,men1 #b1iab #iaj #b1jib ,capital1 #ejb1heg #afe1jjj #ccg1heg ,area 7acres71 #ff1eja #ff1eja - ,the following instances illustrate specific decline in the various natural shellfisheries3-- 7#a7 ,oyster industry1 natural beds3 ,wareham1 ,marion1 ,bourne1 ,wellfleet1 ,charles ,river4 7#b7 ,sea clam industry3 ,dennis1 ,chatham1 ,nantucket4 7#c7 ,scallop industry3 ,buzzards ,bay and north side of ,cape ,cod 7,barnstable74 7#d7 ,clam industry3 ,essex1 ,plymouth1 ,duxbury1 ,buzzards ,bay1 ,annisquam1 ,wellfleet1 ,nantucket4 7#e7 ,quahaug industry3 ,chatham1 ,buzzards ,bay1 ,fall ,river district4 ,these are only a few of the more prominent cases4 ,similar cases will be found all along the coast of ,massachusetts1 and no one can deny that the natural supply is rapidly becoming exhausted1 and that methods are needed to increase the production1 or at least to save the little that remains4 ,b4 ,causes of the ,decline4 ,i4 ,an ,increasing ,demand4--,the indirect cause of the decline of the shellfisheries is the increased demand4 ,to-day more shellfish are consumed than ever before1 and the demand is much greater each succeeding year4 ,it is an economic principle that there must be an equilibrium between supply and demand4 ,if the demand is increasing1 either the supply has to increase to meet the demand1 or the price of the commodity goes up and a new equilibrium is established4 ,the supply must equal the demand of the market4 ,this increasing demand has worked havoc with the shellfisheries4 ,there was a time when the natural supply was of such abundance that the moderate demand of those early days could be met without injury to the fishery4 ,soon this limit was passed1 and with a steadily increasing demand came a corresponding drain on the natural resources1 which little by little started a decline1 the result of which is to-day apparent4 ,the ill-advised policy of the past has been to check the demand by various devices1 such as closed seasons1 limited daily production1 etc4 ,these not only have proved without benefit to the fisherman1 but also have hurt the consumer by the increased price4 ,the demand can be checked by raising the price1 but this tends towards a class distinction between the rich and the poor4 ,the poor man should be able to enjoy the bounties of the sea as well as the rich4 ,the policy of the future should be not to check the demand1 but rather to increase the supply4 ,several causes contribute to this demand1 which has unlimited possibilities of expansion3-- 7#a7 ,the popularity of shellfish as an article of diet is steadily increasing1 not merely for its nutritive value1 but for variety and change in diet4 ,fashionable fads1 i4e41 the little neck of the restaurants and hotels1 contribute to the popularity of these shellfish4 7#b7 ,in the present age1 transportation facilities and cold storage make possible shipments to all parts of the ,united ,states1 and continually widen the market for sea foods4 7#c7 ,the influx of summer people to the seashore not only causes an additional summer demand1 but also widens the popular knowledge of these edible mollusks4 7#d7 ,advertising and more attractive methods of preserving and selling sea food by the dealers still further increase the demand4 ,,ii4 ,overfishing4--,the immediate and direct cause of the decline is overfishing4 ,increased demand causes a severe drain upon the shellfish beds1 which soon leads to overfishing4 ,it is not merely the hard working of the beds1 but the continuous unmethodical and indiscriminate fishing which has caused the total extermination of once flourishing beds in certain localities4 ,under present methods a bed is worked until all its natural recuperatory power is exhausted1 and then it is thrust aside as worthless1 a barren area4 ,prof4 ,jacob ,reighard1 in ,methods of ,plankton ,investigation in their ,relation to ,practical ,problems1#c aptly sums up the situation in his opening paragraph3-- ,in this country the fisherman as a rule continues to fish in any locality until fishing in that locality has become unprofitable4 ,he then moves his operations to new waters until these in turn are exhausted4 ,he is apt to look upon each new body of water as inexhaustible1 and rarely has occasion to ask himself whether it is possible to determine in advance the amount of fish that he may annually take from the water without soon depleting it4 ,in this way the shellfish beds have become exhausted through the indifference and lack of knowledge on the part of the fishing public4 ,in colonial days the resources of the shellfisheries were apparently inexhaustible4 ,the conviction that man could ever exhaust the resources of nature took firm hold of the ,puritan mind1 and even in the present generation many still cling to this illogical doctrine1 although proof to the contrary can be seen on all sides4 ,this idea has caused great harm to the shellfisheries1 stimulating men to wreck certain localities by overfishing4 ,,iii4 ,pollution of ,harbors and ,estuaries and the ,ill ,effects upon ,public ,health through the ,shellfisheries4--,the unscientific disposal of sewage1 sludge1 garbage and factory waste may tend to rapidly fill up the harbor channels1 as well as the areas where the currents are not so rapid4 ,competent authorities scout the idea that ,boston harbor is at present filling up to any considerable degree with sewage sludge1 but the problem must be met in the not distant future4 ,this sewage sludge upon entering salt or brackish water precipitates much more rapidly than in fresh water or upon land1 and becomes relatively insoluble1 hence the accumulation in harbors1 e4g41 ,boston and ,new ,bedford harbors and the estuaries of the ,merrimac1 ,taunton and other rivers4 ,this sludge1 instead of undergoing the normal rapid oxidation and nitrification1 as it does when exposed to the air on land1 undergoes in the sea water a series of changes1 mainly putrefactive1 which results in the production of chemical substances which in solution may 7#a7 drive away the fish which in incredible quantities formerly resorted to that place2 7#b7 impair the vitality and even kill whatever fish spawn or fry may be present2 7#c7 check the growth of or completely destroy the microscopic plants and animals which serve as food for the young fish and shellfish2 7#d7 by developing areas of oily film floating upon the surface of the water1 enormous numbers of the surface-swimming larv of clams1 quahaugs1 scallops1 oysters1 mussels and other marine animals may be destroyed annually4 ,but most serious of all is the fact that all the edible mollusks1 notably the clam1 quahaug1 oyster and mussel1 act as living filters1 whose function is to remove from the water the bacteria and other microscopic plants and animals4 ,most of these microscopic organisms serve as food for the mollusk2 and in instances where the mollusk is eaten raw or imperfectly cooked1 man is liable to infection1 if the bacillus of typhoid fever or other disease chances to be present in the mollusk4 ,though the chance of such infection is remote1 it is nevertheless actually operative4 ,many typhoid epidemics in this country and abroad have been found to be directly referable to shellfish from sewage-polluted waters4 ,for these reasons approximately #a1ejj acres in ,boston harbor and #gjj acres in ,new ,bedford harbor have become unsuitable for the growth of shellfish2 and the ,state ,board of ,health1 after investigation1 decided that clams1 oysters and quahaugs found within these areas are likely to be the direct cause of a dangerous epidemic of typhoid4 ,for this reason the taking of these shellfish for any purpose was very properly prohibited2 but at the last session of the ,legislature a bill was passed which permitted the taking of such shellfish for bait1 upon securing permits from the ,board of ,health1 and providing heavy penalties for both buying and selling4 ,as a matter of fact1 however1 it is well-nigh impracticable to properly enforce this law1 for the reason that it is possible only in very rare instances to keep any one lot of clams known to have been dug under these conditions under surveillance from the time of digging until they are placed upon the hook as bait4 ,complete prevention of the taking of such shellfish is the only method by which the public health can be properly safeguarded4 ,even though in our opinion the annual financial loss to the public from the destruction of this public fishery by the dumping of city sewage into the water is not less than #djj1jjj1 the public health is of greater consequence1 and should not be jeopardized1 as is the fact under present conditions4 ,until such a time as the public realize that economic disposal of sewage must take place on land rather than in water1 laws absolutely preventing any contact with the infected shellfish should be enforced without exception4 ,in instances like these it is greatly to be deplored that but rarely under our system of government can legislation1 which the best knowledge and common-sense demand for the public weal1 be passed in its adequate and beneficial entirety1 but is so frequently emasculated in the selfish interests of a few persons4 ,,iv4 ,natural ,agencies4--,the above causes are given as they are obviously important1 but by no means are they to be considered the only reasons4 ,geographic and climatic changes often explain the extinction of shellfish in certain localities4 ,,the ,,present ,,abuses ,,of ,,the ,,shellfisheries4 ,not only has this survey shown by specific examples the alarming but actual decline of the natural shellfish supply 7in spite of deceptive production statistics71 but it has brought to light numerous evils of various kinds4 ,these abuses have developed gradually with the rise of the shellfisheries1 until at the present day they cannot be overlooked or considered unimportant4 ,so closely are these connected with the present status of our shellfishery that upon their abolition depends its future success or failure4 ,some need immediate attention2 others will require attention later4 ,after a thorough and competent investigation1 remedies for the correction of each evil should be applied4 ,in the future ,massachusetts will have to utilize all her wealth of natural resources1 to keep her leading position among the other ,states of the ,union4 ,to do this she should turn to her sea fisheries1 which have in the past made her rich1 and hold forth prospects of greater wealth in the future4 ,untold possibilities of wealth rest with her shellfisheries1 if obsolete methods and traditions can be cast aside4 ,in any age of progress the ancient and worthless must be buried beneath the ruins of the past1 while the newer and better take their place4 ,there is no more flagrant example of obsolete methods and traditions holding in check the development of an industry than with the shellfisheries1 and it is time that ,massachusetts realized these limitations4 ,the shellfisheries of ,massachusetts are in a chaotic state1 both legally and economically4 ,the finest natural facilities are wasted1 and thousands of acres of profitable flats are allowed to lie barren merely for a lack of initiative on the part of the general public4 ,this chaotic and unproductive state will exist until both the consumer and the fishermen alike understand the true condition of affairs1 and realize that in the bays1 estuaries and flats of ,massachusetts lies as much or more wealth1 acre for acre1 as in the most productive market gardens4 ,in ,rhode ,island the clam and scallop fisheries have almost disappeared4 ,five or ten years from now the shellfisheries of ,massachusetts will be in a similar condition1 and beyond remedy4 ,now is the time for reform4 ,the solution of the problem is simple4 ,shellfish farming is the only possible way in which ,massachusetts can restore her natural supply to its former abundance4 ,i4 ,the ,shellfish ,laws4--,the first evils which demand attention are the existing shellfish laws4 ,while these are supposed to wisely regulate the shellfisheries1 in reality they do more harm than good1 and are direct obstacles to any movement toward improving the natural resources4 ,before ,massachusetts can take any steps toward cultivating her unproductive shellfish areas1 it will be necessary to modify the worst of these laws4 ,a4 ,fishery ,rights of the ,public4--,the fundamental principle upon which the shellfish laws of the ,state are founded is the so-called beach or free fishing rights of the public4 ,while in other ,states property extends only to mean high water1 in ,massachusetts the property holders own to extreme low-water mark4 ,nevertheless1 according to further provisions of this ancient law1 the right of fishing 7which includes the shellfisheries7 below high-water mark is free to any inhabitant of the ,commonwealth4 7#a7 ,origin4--,the first authentic record of this law is found under an act of ,massachusetts1 in #afda-dg1 by which every householder was allowed free fishing and fowling in any of the great ponds1 bays1 coves and rivers1 as far as the sea ebbs and flows1 in their respective towns1 unless the freemen or the ,general ,court had otherwise appropriated them4 ,from this date the shellfisheries were declared to be forever the property of the whole people1 i4e41 the ,state1 and have been for a long period open to any inhabitant of the ,state who wished to dig the shellfish for food or for bait4 7#b7 ,early ,benefits4--,in the early days1 when the natural supply was apparently inexhaustible and practically the entire population resided on or near the seacoast1 it was just that all people should have common rights to the shore fisheries4 ,as long as the natural supply was more than sufficient for the demand1 no law could have been better adapted for the public good4 7#c7 ,present ,inadequacy4--,two hundred and fifty years have passed since this law was first made4 ,the condition of the shellfisheries has changed4 ,no longer do the flats of ,massachusetts yield the enormous harvest of former years1 but lie barren and unproductive4 ,the law which once was a benefit to all has now become antiquated1 and incapable of meeting the new conditions4 7#d7 ,evil ,effects4--,if this law were merely antiquated1 it could be laid aside unnoticed4 ,on the contrary1 as applied to the present conditions of the shellfisheries it not only checks any advancement1 but works positive harm4 ,from the mistaken comprehension of the so-called beach rights of the people1 the general public throughout the ,state is forced to pay an exorbitant price for sea food1 and the enterprising fishermen are deprived of a more profitable livelihood4 ,the present law discriminates against the progressive majority of fishermen in order to benefit a small unprogressive element4 7#e7 ,protection4--,if shellfish farming is ever to be put on a paying basis1 it is essential that the planter have absolute protection4 ,no man is willing to invest capital and labor when protection cannot be guaranteed4 ,what good does it do a man to plant a hundred bushels of clams1 if the next person has a legal right to dig them8 ,since the law absolutely refuses any protection to the shellfish culturist1 ,massachusetts can never restock her barren flats and re-establish her shellfisheries until this law is modified to meet the changed conditions4 7#f7 ,who are the ,objectors8 ,objectors to any new system are always found1 and are not lacking in the case of shellfish culture4 ,these would immediately raise the cry that the public is being deprived of its rights4 ,to-day the public has fewer rights than ever4 ,the present law causes class distinctions1 and a few are benefited at the expense of the public4 ,the industrious fisherman suffers because a few of the worthless1 unenterprising class1 who have no energy1 do not wish others to succeed where they cannot4 ,in every seacoast town in ,massachusetts the more enlightened fishermen see clearly that the only way to preserve the shellfisheries is to cultivate the barren areas4 ,hon4 ,b4 ,f4 ,wood1 in his report of the shellfisheries of ,new ,york1 in #aijf1 clearly states the case4#d ,there is1 unfortunately1 in some of the towns and villages upon our coast an unprogressive element1 composed of those who prefer to reap where they have not sown2 who rely upon what they term their natural right to rake where they may choose in the public waters4 ,they deplete1 but do not build up4 ,they think because it may be possible to go out upon the waters for a few hours in the twenty-four 7when the tide serves7 and dig a half peck of shellfish1 that it is sufficient reason why such lands should not be leased by the ,state to private planters4 ,it might as well be said that it is wrong for the government to grant homestead farms to settlers1 because a few blackberries might be plucked upon the lands by any who cared to look for them4 ,the following is taken from the report of the ,massachusetts ,commissioners on ,fisheries and ,game for #aijf3e-- ,there are at least four distinct classes within our ,commonwealth1 each of which either derive direct benefits from the mollusk fisheries of our coast1 or are indirectly benefited by the products of the flats3-- 7#a7 ,the general public1--the consumers1 who ultimately pay the cost1 who may either buy the joint product of the labor and capital invested in taking and distributing the shellfish from either natural or artificial beds1 or who may dig shellfish for food or bait purposes for their own or family use4 7#b7 ,the capitalist1 who seeks a productive investment for money or brains1 or both4 ,under present laws1 such are practically restricted to distribution of shellfish1 except in the case of the oyster1 where capital may be employed for production as well1--an obvious advantage both to capital and to the public4 7#c7 ,the fishermen1 who1 either as a permanent or temporary vocation1 market the natural yield of the waters2 or1 as in the case of the shellfisheries1 may with a little capital increase the natural yield and availability by cultivating an area of the tidal flats after the manner of a garden4 7#d7 ,the owners of the land adjacent to the flats1 who are under the present laws often subjected to loss or annoyance1 or even positive discomfort1 by inability to safeguard their proper rights to a certain degree of freedom from intruders and from damage to bathing or boating facilities1 which constitute a definite portion of the value of shore property4 ,all of these classes would be directly benefited by just laws1 which would encourage and safeguard all well-advised projects for artificial cultivation of the tidal flats1 and would deal justly and intelligently with the various coincident and conflicting rights of the fishermen1 owners of shore property1 bathers and other seekers of pleasure1 recreation or profit1 boatmen1 and all others who hold public and private rights and concessions4 ,that any one class should claim exclusive natural valid rights1 over any other class1 to the shellfish products of the shores1 which the law states expressly are the property of the people1 is as absurd as to claim that any class had exclusive natural rights to wild strawberries1 raspberries1 cranberries or other wild fruits1 and that therefore the land upon which these grew could not be used for the purpose of increasing the yield of these fruits4 ,this becomes the more absurd from the fact that the wild fruits pass to the owner of the title of the land1 while the shellfish are specifically exempted1 and remain the property of the public4 ,the class most benefited by improved laws would be the fishermen1 who would profit by better wages through the increased quantity of shellfish they could dig per hour1 by a better market and by better prices1 for the reason that the control of the output would secure regularity of supply4 ,moreover1 when the market was unfavorable the shellfish could be kept in the beds with a reasonable certainty of finding them there when wanted1 and with the added advantage of an increased volume by growth during the interval1 together with the avoidance of cold-storage charges4 ,thus the diggers could be certain of securing a supply at almost any stage of the tide and in all but the most inclement weather1 through a knowledge of where to dig2 moreover1 there would be a complete elimination of the reasoning which is now so prolific of ill feelings and so wasteful of the shellfish1 viz41 the incentive of getting there ahead of the other fellow4 ,b4 ,all the shellfish laws should be revised1 to secure a unity and clearness which should render graft1 unfairness and avoidable economic loss impossible1 and be replaced with a code of fair1 intelligent and forceful laws1 which would not only permit the advancement of the shellfish industry through the individual efforts of the progressive shellfishermen1 but also protect the rights of the general public4 ,c4 ,the majority of the shellfish laws of the ,state are enacted by the individual towns4 ,in #ahhj the ,state first officially granted to each town the exclusive right to control and regulate its own shellfisheries1 as provided under section #fh of chapter #ia of the ,public ,statutes4 ,this was slightly modified by the ,acts of #ahhi and #ahib to read as follows 7now section #he of chapter #ia of the ,revised ,laws73-- ,,section #he4 ,the mayor and aldermen of cities and the selectmen of towns1 if so instructed by their cities and towns1 may1 except as provided in the two preceding sections1 control1 regulate or prohibit the taking of eels1 clams1 quahaugs and scallops within the same2 and may grant permits prescribing the times and methods of taking eels and such shellfish within such cities and towns and make such other regulations in regard to said fisheries as they may deem expedient4 ,but an inhabitant of the commonwealth1 without such permit1 may take eels and the shellfish above-named for his own family use from the waters of his own or any other city or town1 and may take from the waters of his own city or town any of such shellfish for bait1 not exceeding three bushels1 including shells1 in any one day1 subject to the general rules of the mayor and aldermen and selectmen1 respectively1 as to the times and methods of taking such fish4 ,the provisions of this section shall not authorize the taking of fish in violation of the provisions of sections forty-four and forty-five4 ,whoever takes any eels or any of said shellfish without such permit1 and in violation of the provisions of this section1 shall forfeit not less than three nor more than fifty dollars4 ,responsibility has thus been transferred from the ,state to the towns1 and they alone1 through their incompetence and neglect1 are to blame for the decline of the shellfisheries4 ,the town laws are miniature copies of the worst features of the ,state laws4 ,while a few towns have succeeded in enacting fairly good laws1 the majority have either passed no shellfish regulations at all1 or made matters worse by unintelligent and harmful laws4 ,it is time that a unified system of competent by-laws were enacted and enforced in every town4 ,the ill-advised features which characterize the present town laws are numerous1 and are best considered under the following headings3-- 7#a7 ,unintelligent ,laws4--,one of the worst features of our town shellfish laws is their extreme unfitness4 ,numerous laws which are absolutely useless for the regulation and improvement of these industries have been made by towns1 through men who knew nothing about the shellfisheries4 ,these laws were made without any regard for the practical or biological conditions underlying the shellfish industry4 ,it is to be expected that laws from such a source would often be ill-advised and unintelligent1 but under the present system it cannot be avoided4 ,until sufficient knowledge of the habits and growth of shellfish is acquired by the authorities of ,state and town1 ,massachusetts can never expect to have intelligent and profitable shellfish laws4 ,while the majority of these unintelligent laws do no harm1 there are some that work hardship to the fishermen and are an injury to the shellfisheries4 7#b7 ,unfairness2 ,town ,politics4--,town politics offers many chances for unscrupulous discrimination in the shellfish laws4 ,here we find one class of fishermen benefiting by legislation at the expense of the other1 as in the case of the quahaugers v4 oystermen4 ,in one town the oystermen will have the upper hand2 in another1 the quahaugers4 ,in every case there is unfair discrimination1 and a resultant financial loss to both parties4 ,the waters of ,massachusetts are large enough for both industries1 and every man should have a square deal1 which is frequently lacking under the present rgime4 ,besides party discrimination1 there is discrimination against certain individuals1 as illustrated in giving oyster grants4 ,town politics plays a distressing part here4 ,favoritism is repeatedly shown1 and unfairness results4 ,all this shows the unpopularity and impracticability of such regulations and the method of making them4 7#c7 ,present ,chaotic ,state4--,the present town laws are in a chaotic condition1 which it is almost impossible to simplify4 ,no one knows the laws1 there is merely a vague impression that such have existed4 ,even the selectmen themselves1 often new to the office and unacquainted with the shellfisheries1 know little about the accumulated shellfish laws of the past years1 and find it impossible to comprehend them4 ,the only remedy is to wipe out all the old and replace them with unified new laws4 7#d7 ,unsystematic ,laws4--,the present laws are unsystematized4 ,each town has its own methods1 good and bad1 and the result is a heterogeneous mixture4 ,often there are two or three laws where one would definitely serve4 ,to do absolute justice there should be a definite system1 with laws elastic enough to satisfy the needs of all4 7#e7 ,nonenforcement4--,the worst feature of allowing town control of the shellfisheries is the nonenforcement of the laws already passed4 ,we find in many towns that good by-laws have been made1 but from inattention and lack of money these have never been enforced and have become practically nonexistent4 ,the #a-;inch quahaug law of several towns is an instance of this4 ,in but one town in the ,state1 ,edgartown1 is any effort made to enforce this excellent town by-law1 although several of the other towns have passed the same4 ,the proper enforcement of laws is as important as the making1 as a law might as well not be made if not properly enforced4 ,the only way that this can be remedied is either to take the control completely out of the hands of the town1 or else have a supervisory body which would force the town to look after violators4 ,besides the town by-laws there are other evils which result from the present system of town control4 ,,ii4 ,lack of ,protection in ,oyster ,industry4--,in no case is the management by towns more inefficient and confusing than in the case of the oyster industry4 ,as this subject will be taken up in the oyster report which follows1 it is only necessary here to state that there is great need of a proper survey of grants1 fair laws1 systematic methods1 etc4 ,protection is necessary for the success of any industry1 and is especially needed for the oyster industry4 ,the oyster industry of ,massachusetts will never become important until adequate protection is guaranteed to the planters4 ,under the present system1 uncertainty rather than protection is the result4 ,,iii4 ,town ,jealousy4--,the evil of town jealousy1 whereby one town forbids its shellfisheries to the inhabitant of neighboring towns1 is to-day an important factor4 ,it is fair that a town which improves its own shellfisheries should not be interfered with by a town which has allowed its shellfisheries to decline4 ,while this is true perhaps of the clam1 quahaug and oyster1 it does not hold true of the scallop4 ,the result of this close-fisted policy has resulted in the past in a great loss in the scallop industry4 ,the town law in regard to scallops is all wrong4 ,the scallop fisheries should be open to all the ,state1 and no one town should hog the fishing1 and leave thousands of bushels to die from their dog-in-the-manger attitude4 ,,iv4 ,sectional ,jealousy4--,another evil1 which in the past has been prominent1 but is becoming less and less as the years go by1 is the jealousy of the north shore v4 the south shore1 ,cape ,cod v4 ,cape ,ann4 ,in the past this has been a stumbling block against any advance1 as any plan initiated on the south shore would be opposed from sheer prejudice by the north shore representatives1 and vice versa4 ,the cry of entering wedge has been raised again and again whenever any bill was introduced for the good of the shellfisheries by either party4 ,merely for political reasons good legislation has been defeated4 ,however1 the last few years have shown a decided change4 ,the jealous feeling has in a large measure subsided2 the shellfisheries need intelligent consideration1 and all parties realize that united effort is necessary to insure the future of these industries4 ,v4 ,quahaugers v4 ,oystermen4--,on the south shore the worst evil which at present exists is the interclass rivalry between the quahaugers and oystermen4 ,this has caused much harm to both parties1 through expensive lawsuits1 economic loss1 uncertainty of a livelihood1 as well as retarding the proper development of both industries4 ,,vi4 ,waste of ,competition4--,at the present day the utilization of waste products in all industries is becoming more and more important4 ,in this age material which was considered useless by our forefathers is made to play its part in the economic world4 ,through science industrial waste of competition is being gradually reduced to a minimum1 although in any business which deals with perishable commodities1 such as fish1 fruit1 etc41 there is bound to be a certain amount of loss4 ,under the present system the shellfisheries suffer from the effects of waste resulting from competition4 ,both the fisherman and the consumer feel the effects of this1 in different ways1--the fisherman through poor market returns1 the consumer through poor service4 ,as long as the shellfisheries are free to all1 there is bound to be that scramble to get ahead of the other fellow1 which not only results in the destructive waste of the actual catch1 but also causes a glutted market1 which gives a low return to the fisherman4 ,thousands of dollars are thus lost each year by the fishermen1 who are forced to keep shipping their shellfish1 often to perish in the market1 merely because the present system invites ruthless competition4 ,the fishermen in this respect alone should be the first to desire a new system1 which would give to each a shellfish farm and the privilege of selecting his market4 ,,vii4 ,at the present moment there are two evils which demand attention1 and which can be lessened by the passage of two simple laws3-- 7#a7 ,during the past three years many thousands of bushels of quahaugs under #a inches have been shipped out of the ,state1 merely passing into the hands of ,new ,york oystermen1 who replanted1 reaping in one year a harvest of at least five bushels to every one bedded4 ,through the inactivity of town control1 the incentive to get ahead of the other fellow and the ignorance that they are wasting their own substance have caused many quahaugers in the past to do this at many places4 ,the #a-;inch quahaug law has been for years a law for many towns in the ,state4 ,it has been practically a dead letter in all but ,edgartown1 where it is enforced thoroughly4 ,there should be a ,state law restricting the size of the quahaugs taken4 7#b7 ,the enforcement of a #a-;inch clam law1 especially in the towns of ,fall ,river and ,swansea1 where the digging has reduced the clams to a small size1 likewise deserves immediate attention4 ,all the present evils have each contributed their share toward the ruin of the shellfisheries1 and can be best summed up under one head1 i4e41 the abuse of nature4 ,all the above evils have either directly or indirectly worked towards this end4 ,this abuse of nature has resulted in several ways3 7#a7 indiscriminate fishing1 restricted by no laws1 augmented by unwise laws2 7#b7 overfishing in certain localities until the supply is exhausted1 as1 among other instances1 with the ,essex clam flats and the natural oyster beds of the ,weweantit ,river2 7#c7 exploiting and wasting the natural resources1 so that nature cannot repair the inroads4 ,nature cannot cope with despoiling man1--man must assist nature4 ,in the past there has been much feeling1 especially among the clammers of the north shore1 against the ,fish and ,game ,commission4 ,it therefore is necessary to correct a mistaken impression1 which has arisen among the clammers1 that the ,state is going to take the clam flats away from us4 ,this idea is on the face of it absurd4 ,the ,massachusetts ,fish and ,game ,commission is seeking only to have this question solved in such a manner as to yield the most satisfactory results for the public good4 ,at the present time it would be highly undesirable to take the complete control of the shellfisheries from any town1 as long as that town shows itself capable of regulating them wisely4 ,at the present day but few towns show any signs of this4 ,what is necessary and desirable is to have an intelligent supervisory body1 with power to compel each town to take proper care of its shellfisheries4 ,it is advisable that there be a central power1 co-operating with the town control in all matters pertaining to the shellfisheries1 whether it be regulations or the restocking of barren areas4 ,a board of arbitration1 a committee of appeal for any grievance under the town control1 and a commission that would act for the interests of the whole ,state1 are what is most desirable at the present time4 ,such an arrangement would not be changing radically the present system of town control1 but it would free it from its existing evils1 place it on a firm and just basis1 and give the shellfisheries a chance for improvement4 ,,the ,,fisherman ,,and ,,laws4 ,the fisherman of to-day1 though nominally his own master1 is in reality subject to the demands of the market4 ,to gain a living he is forced to work in all kinds of weather1 at cold1 disagreeable work4 ,under the present system he is oppressed by useless special town laws1 which merely increase his daily labors without benefiting the fishery in the least4 ,a few good laws only are necessary for the shellfisheries4 ,it is time that the fisherman1 one of the great factors in the commercial supremacy of ,massachusetts1 should be freed from all unnecessary burdens through a new system of satisfactory laws4 ,,the ,,remedy4 ,in spite of all the existing evils of the town shellfisheries1 the outlook is far from hopeless4 ,to-day the shellfisheries of ,massachusetts1 owing to great natural resources1 are as good or better than those of any other coast ,states1 and only await development under proper methods to ensure a bright future4 ,the ,commissioners on ,fisheries and ,game can only point the way of reform2 the result lies in the hands of the intelligent voters of this ,commonwealth1 whose action decides the future success or failure of the shellfisheries4 ,it should be the object of every thinking voter1 whether he be fisherman or consumer1 to see that the right action be taken in regard to the shellfisheries4 ,as shown in the preceding pages of this report1 the attempted remedy has been based upon the false economic basis of attempting to check the demand by prohibiting digging for certain periods 7closed seasons71 limiting the amount to be legally dug by any one person1 etc4 ,it would be quite as logical for a town or city to prohibit by by-laws the use or digging of potatoes or any other food crop1 when the supply was short1 rather than to attempt to increase the supply4 ,an increasing demand cannot be checked by any such ill-advised measures1 but can be met only by a corresponding increase in the natural production4 ,the only remedy that can be applied successfully is shellfish culture1 which means the utilizing of thousands of acres of barren shore area for the planting of farms which will furnish harvests of shellfish4 ,in this way the latent potentialities of nature1 which it is criminal to neglect1 will be utilized for the good of the entire population of the ,state4 _/ ,we learn from the dictionaries that a farm is defined to be a tract of land under one control1 devoted to agriculture1 etc42 and that agriculture is the cultivation of the soil for food products or other useful or valuable growths4 ,all this is very familiar knowledge1 as applied to the dry land2 but that there may fairly be brought within these definitions the operations of an industry in which lands covered by the salt waters of our bays and harbors are tilled1 cultivated1 raked1 harrowed and planted with seedling bivalves1 and harvests of a valuable product garnered1 constituting a superb food for the masses1 is less familiar1 and to many may seem quite astonishing4 ,it is within a comparatively few years that this unique style of farming has had its growth and development1 until now many thousands of acres of land under water have been carefully surveyed1 and the boundaries marked by buoys and stakes4#f ,to bring the shellfisheries of ,massachusetts to their maximum production will take years1 but within five years the production can be nearly doubled1 if work in the right direction is begun at once4 ,patience will be required to overcome the obstacles which must be met1 and the change must necessarily be gradual4 ,every year the difficulties of reform increase4 ,owing to a steadily increasing demand1 the natural supply is becoming smaller1 and consequently the difficulty of increasing it becomes so much the harder4 ,soon the line of possibility will be crossed1 and the shellfisheries will become an industry of the past4 ,a few shellfish will always remain1 but as an important industry1 the shellfisheries1 if no remedy is applied1 in twenty-five years will be commercially extinct4 ,while there is still time1 let action be taken4 ,the utilization of the barren shellfish areas1 wise laws1 good regulations and systematic methods of culture are necessary1 in order to obtain the maximum production from these sea farms4 ,the sea farm possesses one advantage over the ordinary farm1--the soil never becomes exhausted1 as the shellfish derive their sustenance from the water1 utilizing indirectly the waste nitrates of the land4 ,to do this it is necessary that shellfish culture be at once begun1 either by individuals or by towns4 ,three methods of shellfish culture offer ways of approach towards the utilization of the waste areas3-- 7#a7 ,to leave the matter wholly in the hands of the town4 ,this is the poorest way1 as has been shown in the past4 ,unless the town officials were well informed about the shellfisheries1 it would be an absurd farce to entrust the future of this important industry wholly in their hands4 7#b7 ,place all power with the ,state1 instead of with the town4 ,have a unified and simplified system1 whereby shellfish farms and grants can be leased by the individuals4 ,this plan1 much better than the first1 and possibly the final solution1 is1 however1 not practical of application to the existing conditions4 ,later1 when these conditions are removed1 it may prove the best solution of the problem4 7#c7 ,the present system of town control to remain4 ,the appointment of the ,fish and ,game ,commission1 or a similar commission1 to have complete advisory power over the towns1 and power to force each town to properly protect its shellfish4 ,a ,state law would be passed1 legalizing grants to individuals and dividing the flats into two equal parts1--public and private4 ,the leasing of grants would be in the hands of the town authorities1 but subject to appeal for any grievance to the ,fish and ,game ,commission4 ,in the chapter relating to each shellfish will be given the practical methods of cultivation for reclaiming the waste areas4 ,these methods have been proved by the experimental work of this commission1 the results of which may be published in a subsequent scientific report upon the shellfish4 ,the commission has definitely shown that shellfish culture in ,massachusetts is a possibility1 and1 moreover1 a remunerative possibility4 ,,who ,,would ,,benefit8 7#a7 ,under the proposed system of practical shellfish culture1 many classes of people would be benefited4 ,the person who would be primarily benefited is the fisherman4 ,in the following ways the condition of the industrious fisherman would be bettered3 7a7 his work would be steady1 not uncertain2 7b7 he would know his exact annual income1 and could govern his living expenses accordingly2 7c7 he would receive more money1 with less hardship2 7d7 he would ensure steady market returns1 which under the present system are very uncertain2 7e7 he would be his own master1 and not forced to work for poor pay1 under the stress of wasteful competition4 7#b7 ,the shellfisheries are not for any particular class1 but should benefit all1 and any improvement in the industry affects all people4 ,a second class would also be benefited by an increase in the shellfish industries4 ,this class can be divided into two groups3 7a7 those directly influenced2 7b7 those indirectly4 ,in the first group are the middlemen1--dealers4 ,by an increased trade1 more firms enter the business1 more men are hired1 etc4 ,comprising the second group are teamsters1 coopers1 shop owners1 sailors1 transportation lines1--an indefinite list1 which would be indirectly benefited by an increase in the shellfish industry4 7#c7 ,thirdly1 the consumer would receive the benefit of improved quality of goods1 reasonable prices1 etc4 ,through increased transportation facilities the inland consumer would have the pleasure of partaking of sea food1 and what were once the luxuries of the rich could be had by all4 ,,capital4 ,capital is needed for the best success of any business4 ,in a broad sense1 the tools1 implements1 etc41 of the shellfisherman are capital4 ,in the future1 if the shellfisheries are to become a great industry1 money as working capital is indispensable4 ,blind objection to the employment of capital on the part of the fishermen works against the best interests of the shellfisheries4 ,,shellfish ,,monopoly4 ,for years the fishermen have feared that the shellfisheries would fall into the hands of a few companies or trusts1 and the individual fisherman thereby lose his independence4 ,as the present age tends toward the formation of monopolies in all business1 the fears of the fishermen are not altogether groundless in this respect2 nevertheless1 while there are certain chances of monopoly in the shellfisheries1 these chances are very small4 ,in the first place1 a monopoly of a raw edible product1 such as shellfish1 is hardly possible4 ,never can it be possible for any one company to control all or the majority of a shellfish supply1 which possesses unlimited possibilities of expansion4 ,secondly1 there are but two ways in which a monopoly of the shellfisheries can be obtained3 one is the control of the market by buying up all the shellfish1--a thing far easier under the present conditions2 the other1 by buying through contract the rights of the individual planters4 ,the success of such an enterprise would depend wholly upon the personnel of the shellfishermen1 and such a result could never become possible if each shellfisherman would refuse to sell his rights4 ,,summary4 ,this survey has shown 7#a7 that the shellfisheries have declined 7an established fact72 7#b7 that the causes of the decline are overfishing and unwise laws2 7#c7 that the remedy is1 not to check the demand1 as has been previously attempted1 but to increase the production by the utilization of vast areas of barren flats1 which have been experimentally proved capable of yielding a great harvest2 7#d7 that the present chaotic laws render this impossible2 7#e7 that there is a need of reform1 or else the shellfisheries will soon disappear2 7#f7 that the first step is the removal of these laws to permit the application of proper cultural methods4 ,,footnotes3 #a ,gulf ,biologic ,station1 ,cameron1 ,la41 ,bulletin ,no4 #c1 #aije4 #b ,returns of ,massachusetts ,department of ,fisheries and ,game4 #c ,united ,states ,fish ,commission ,pamphlet1 #ahih4 #d ,new ,york ,shellfish ,report1 p4 #g4 #e ,report on the ,shellfisheries1 pp4 #cc-ce4 #f ,forest1 ,fish and ,game ,commission ,bulletin1 ,shellfish ,culture in ,new ,york1 #aije4 ,by ,b4 ,frank ,wood4 ,,quahaug 7,venus mercenaria74 ,inhabiting common waters with the scallop1 the northern range of the quahaug 7the hard-shell clam or little neck7 in ,massachusetts is ,plymouth4 ,commercially it is found both on the north and south side of ,cape ,cod and in ,buzzards ,bay1 the principal fisheries being at ,wellfleet1 ,orleans1 ,edgartown1 ,nantucket and in ,buzzards ,bay4 ,the quahaug1 while essentially a southern and warm-water form1 being found in the ,united ,states along the ,atlantic seacoast as far south as the ,gulf of ,mexico1 practically reaches its northern range in ,massachusetts4 ,in a few sheltered bays on the ,maine coast quahaugs are sometimes found1 but in small quantities4 ,however1 at ,prince ,edward ,island there is said to be an abundance4 ,along the coast of ,massachusetts north of ,boston very few quahaugs are found1 although they were formerly taken near ,salem4 ,the black quahaug 7,cyprina islandica71 so called from its dark epidermis1 is often caught in the trawls1 but this is a deep-sea form1 and by no means a true quahaug4 ,in ,essex and ,ipswich rivers and on ,plum ,island experimental beds have shown that quahaugs grow in these waters1 but no spawn has yet been noticed1 though ripe eggs were developed in the planted quahaugs4 ,owing to the swift currents1 which carry the spawn perhaps for miles1 it is impossible to determine accurately whether any set has taken place4 ,during the past three years1 as outlined by chapter #gh1 ,resolves of #aije1 the ,fish and ,game ,commission has conducted a series of experiments upon the quahaug1 designated to furnish sufficient data concerning the growth of this mollusk under a variety of conditions1 to demonstrate the possibilities and value of practical quahaug farming4 ,the results of these investigations upon the life1 habits and culture of the quahaug are to be published in a later scientific report4 ,it is necessary here to say that all statements in this report concerning the growth and culture of quahaugs have been proved by experiments1 the results of which are on file at the office of the department of fisheries and game4 ,it is the object of this report to present both to the fishermen and consumers 7#a7 actual statistical figures of the industry of the ,state for #aijg2 7#b7 a biological survey of the quahauging areas1 outlined by maps and descriptions2 7#c7 a description of the industry4 ,this survey should furnish a basis for determining any decline or advance in the quahaug industry of the future1 as well as affording comparison with the ,united ,states ,fish ,commission survey of #ahgi1 made by ,ernest ,ingersoll4 ,massachusetts1 situated at the northern limit of the quahaug industry of the ,united ,states1 is handicapped in comparison with other ,states1 as only the southern waters of the ,state are given to this industry4 ,nevertheless1 though possessing only a partial industry1 ,massachusetts ranks the fourth ,state in quahaug production1 according to the #aijf report of the ,united ,states ,fish ,commission4 ,the same natural conditions which suit so well the shallow-water scallop are also adapted to the growth of the quahaug4 ,in nearly all the sheltered bays1 inlets and rivers of the southern coast of ,massachusetts the quahaug can be found in varying abundance4 ,technically1 there is more territory which admits the possibility of quahaug growth than of any other shellfish4 ,the bathymetric range of the quahaug is extensive1 as the quahaug is raked in all depths of water up to #ej feet4 ,in spite of the vast territory nature has provided for the quahaug in the waters of ,massachusetts1 the commercial fishery is found only in small parts of this large area4 ,scattered quahaugs are found over the rest of the area1 but in paying quantities only in limited places4 ,the possibilities of developing this great natural tract of quahaug ground are especially alluring1--far more so than any of the other shellfisheries4 ,the quahaug has a greater area1 greater possible expansion and a more profitable market4 ,nature has equipped southern ,massachusetts with numerous bays with remarkable facilities for the production of quahaugs2 it only remains for man to make the most of these4 ,method of ,work4--,the method of work used in preparing this portion of the report varied but little from that relating to the other shellfish1 though several features made it harder to obtain accurate information4 ,there is a more general obscurity about the history of the quahaug than about any of the other shellfish1 even though the quahaug industry is commercially the youngest of all4 ,this is due1 perhaps1 to the gradual rise of the industry through the discovery of new territory4 ,the only historical record obtainable is ,e4 ,ingersoll's report on the quahaug1 in #ahgi1 in which he deals briefly with the industry in ,massachusetts4 ,town records help but little in determining the history of the industry1 as only of late years have the towns required the taking of permits4 ,in making the biological survey1 the difficulty arises of defining what constitutes quahaug ground1 since scattering quahaugs are found over vast territories1 but only limited areas are commercially productive4 ,the estimates of the quahaugers1 both historically and in regard to production and areas1 are often erroneous and vary greatly4 ,by the use of market reports1 express shipments1 estimates of dealers1 estimates of several reliable quahaugers1 and all methods at our command1 the facts of the industry were compiled and errors eliminated as far as possible4 ,the home consumption is hard to determine1 and is merely an estimate4 ,the area of the quahaug territory was plotted on the map1 and calculations made from the plots4 ,whenever personal inspection was not possible1 as in ,falmouth1 the estimates of several quahaugers were taken4 ,results4 #a4 ,is the ,quahaug ,fishery declining8--,the decline of the quahaug fishery is well recognized4 ,even the production figures1 which1 when stimulated by high prices1 usually give a deceptive appearance of prosperity to a declining industry1 since more men enter the fishery1 show a decline in the last few years4 ,when such a point is reached1--when1 in spite of higher prices and more men1 the annual production becomes less and less1--not many years will pass before the industry will collapse completely4 ,increased prices show either an increase in demand or a falling off of the supply4 ,both are perhaps true of the quahaug industry4 ,the demand1 especially for little necks1 has been steadily on the increase1 and a broad inland market is gradually opening1 since the quahaug is capable of long transportation without perishing4 ,so the increased prices are a sign of the diminution of the supply1 as well as of an increased demand1 the indeterminable factor being what ratio the one bears to the other4 ,the only way to determine accurately the decline in the natural supply is to compare the amount the average quahauger could dig ten or twenty years ago with the amount dug to-day4 ,even this comparison is unfair1 as the better rakes1 improved methods1 etc41 of the present time tend to increase the daily yield of the quahauger4 ,this decline can best be shown by taking special localities3-- 7#a7 ,buzzards ,bay4--,the quahaug industry in ,buzzards ,bay has shown a great decline in the past ten to twenty years1 and the industry is now at a low ebb1 especially in the towns of ,marion and ,mattapoisett4 ,wareham1 ,bourne and ,fairhaven still manage to ship about #bg1jjj bushels annually1 employing over #bjj men2 but this is hardly up to their former standard4 ,to-day at ,wareham the daily catch per man is one-fifth of what it was twenty years ago2 in #ahhg a man could dig #e bushels to a catch of #a bushel now4 ,buzzards ,bay perhaps has shown the greatest quahaug decline4 7#b7 ,south ,side of ,cape ,cod4--,while not so marked a decline has taken place as in ,buzzards ,bay1 every quahauger agrees that the industry is gradually failing4 ,in ,bass ,river1 at ,hyannis1 and in ,chatham1 there is a marked decrease1 while at ,cotuit and ,osterville the industry has remained stationary4 7#c7 ,north ,side of ,cape ,cod4--,the best quahaug fishery of ,massachusetts1 except at ,edgartown1 is found on the north side of ,cape ,cod1 in the towns of ,wellfleet1 ,eastham and ,orleans4 ,these three towns give an annual yield of #ge1jjj bushels4 ,only about fifteen years old commercially1 the industry has passed its prime and is on the decline4 ,this decline is shown both by production figures and by the gradual moving to deeper water4 ,as the quahaugs were thinned out in shallow water1 the fishermen moved farther and farther out1 using long rakes1 until #fj-;foot rakes are now used at a depth of #ej feet4 ,probably the #fj-;foot limit will never be exceeded1 unless a method of dredging is devised2 and it will be only a question of years when the industry will become extinct4 7#d7 ,nantucket4--,the industry here has generally declined1 though in the last few years there has been a slight increase in production4 7#e7 ,edgartown4--,the quahaug industry at ,edgartown has declined little1 if any1 while the fishery has been carried on for many years4 ,the natural resources have not been seriously impaired1 owing to the efficient town management2 and ,edgartown can be congratulated on being the only town in the ,state that can boast of a protected industry4 ,although the quahaug industry has not openly shown the tendency to decline that the soft clam has manifested in southern ,massachusetts1 the danger is nevertheless very great1 and the disaster would be far worse4 ,the fishermen of ,cape ,cod realize that the clam industry has practically gone2 but they are blind to the fact that a far more important one--the quahaug industry--is in as grave danger1 and only when it is too late will they wake to a realization of the situation4 ,the clam industry on ,cape ,cod and ,buzzards ,bay will never assume the importance it possesses on the north shore1 owing to lack of extensive flats4 ,rather the quahaug industry is the main shellfish industry of the south shore1 as it is more valuable1 more important1 and capable of vast expansion4 ,the development of the quahaug industry should bring many hundred thousand dollars to ,cape ,cod4 ,,ii4 ,causes of the ,decline4--,the direct cause is overfishing4 ,the quahaug is hardy1 little harmed by climatic changes1 and has but few natural enemies4 ,man alone has caused the decline of the natural supply4 ,not satisfied with taking the mediums and large quahaugs1 but spurred on by the high prices offered for the little neck1 the quahaug fisherman has cleaned up everything he can get1 and the natural supply has suffered greatly4 ,if the market demands the capture of the little neck1 it is necessary to leave the large quahaugs as spawners4 ,at the present time1 by the capture of both the industry is being ruined4 ,the ,remedy4--,quahaug ,farming4 ,there is only one way in which the present decline can be checked1 and that is1 to increase the natural supply by cultural methods to meet the demands of the market4 ,the only way to accomplish this increase is to plant and raise quahaugs1--in fact1 have a system of quahaug farming for the whole south shore of ,massachusetts4 ,in considering quahaug farming1 many questions naturally arise3 7#a7 ,is quahaug farming an established fact1 or a mere theory8 7#b7 ,possibilities of quahaug farming4 7#c7 ,what is the growth of the quahaug1 and how long does it take to raise a crop8 7#d7 ,what is the value of a quahaug farm8 7#e7 ,what benefits would the quahaug industry receive from such a system8 7#a7 ,quahaug ,farming an ,established ,fact1--not a ,theory4--,it is not the object of this report to go into a scientific treatise upon experiments in quahaug culture4 ,for the past three years the ,commission on ,fisheries and ,game has been conducting experiments upon the growth and culture of quahaugs1 the results of which will be published in a subsequent report4 ,these experiments have shown that quahaug farming is no theory1 but an established fact1 and that1 if taken up1 it will make the quahaug fishery the most important shellfish industry of the ,state4 ,these experiments1 consisting of small beds one one-thousandth of an acre in area1 were located at different places along the coast4 ,various conditions in regard to food1 current1 tide1 soil1 etc41 were tested4 ,the results from nearly every bed were excellent1 and showed the ease of culture and the great profit which would result if larger areas were thus worked4 ,the results obtained from the experiments of the commission alone are sufficient to prove the practicability of quahaug farming1 even if there were no other proofs4 ,as it is1 there have been many tests made by the oystermen1 both outside and inside the ,state4 ,some years ago the oystermen near ,new ,york realized the possibilities of raising quahaugs on their oyster grants1 and to-day ,massachusetts ships many barrels of seed quahaugs out of the ,state to these far-sighted business men1 who reap large returns by replanting these small little necks4 ,the ,massachusetts oystermen have not been slow to realize the large returns afforded by quahaug culture1 and some have planted many bushels of the seed1 thus turning their grants into partial quahaug farms4 ,these men have proved that this style of farming is practical1 and that as a money-making proposition the quahaug is far ahead of the oyster4 ,as affairs exist to-day in ,massachusetts1 a few men alone have the privilege of raising quahaugs1 while the rest stand idle4 ,theoretically and legally1 no one has the right to plant and raise quahaugs in the ,state2 but practically and secretly it is done with great success4 ,who can blame the oysterman for raising quahaugs with his oysters1 in view of the fast-declining quahaug industry8 ,rather by so doing he is helping perpetuate the natural supply4 ,the objection to this present system of secret quahaug farming is its unfairness4 ,a few men are enjoying the privileges that many others should likewise enjoy4 ,there is plenty of room1 and quahaug farming might as well be carried on openly1 to the benefit of all4 ,while the oystermen have made a move toward general quahaug farming1 and have shown the great possibilities that this system possesses1 the quahaugers have also exhibited a tendency in a similar direction4 ,the originators of the town law in ,eastham1 ,orleans and ,wellfleet1 which provides for the leasing of #e1fbe square feet of flat for bedding the catch1 and thus makes possible the advantage of a favorable market1 probably did not imagine that this was the first great step on the part of the quahaugers towards shellfish farming4 ,the success of this scheme has here opened the eyes of the intelligent quahaugers to the even better possibilities of quahaug culture1 and any well-devised scheme of shellfish farming will be favorably received4 ,the main impulse that makes people turn to quahaug culture is the steady decline of the industry1 especially during the last few years4 ,in the previous pages of this report there have been shown3 7#a7 the actuality of the decline2 7#b7 the causes of this decline4 ,the proof of the decline is so generally apparent that it has created a popular demand for a fair system of quahaug farming1 to check the diminution of the present supply4 7#b7 ,possibilities of ,quahaug ,farming4--,the quahaug has a wide range2 it is found in all depths of water1 from high tide line to sixty feet1 and in various kinds of mud and sand bottom4 ,this natural adaptability gives the quahaug a wider area than any other shellfish1 as it will live in nearly any bottom1 although the rate of growth depends essentially upon its location in respect to current4 ,this permits the utilization of vast areas which to-day are unproductive1 and which can all be made into profitable quahaug farms4 ,quahaugs will grow on thousands of acres of flats1 such as the ,common ,flats of ,chatham1 if they are planted4 ,there are indefinite possibilities of expansion in quahaug farming through the reclamation of this unproductive sea bottom4 7#c7 ,rate of ,growth of ,quahaug4--,the rate of growth of the quahaug varies greatly in regard to its location in respect to the current4 ,the quahaugs which have the better current or circulation of water show the faster growth4 ,the fastest growth recorded by the experiments of the ,department on ,fisheries and ,game was a gain of #a inch a year2 i4e41 #a-;inch quahaugs attained in one year a length of #b inches4 ,the average growth is between and inch a year1 or a yield of #c to #e bushels for every bushel planted1 or the return in one year of #d for every #a invested4 ,in the more favorable localities there would be the enormous gain of #h for every dollar invested4 ,all this can be done in six months1 as the quahaug grows only during the six summer months4 ,the above figures are taken from experiments which have been conducted on ,cape ,cod1 in ,buzzards ,bay and at ,nantucket4 7#d7 ,value of a ,quahaug ,farm4--,an acre of little-neck quahaugs has a high market value4 ,a conservative estimate of #aj per square foot gives the yield in one year of #b-;inch quahaugs as #fjj bushels per acre2 ,this means that #abj bushels of #a-;inch quahaugs were planted to the acre4 ,the price paid for the same would be #fjj1 at the high price of #e per bushel4 ,the price received for the same1 at #c per bushel1 would bring #a1hjj1 or a gain of #c for every #a invested4 ,this is a conservative estimate on all sides4 ,quahaugs could be planted two or three times as thick1 seed might be purchased for less money1 more money might be received for private shipments1 and faster growth can be obtained4 ,the only labor necessary is gathering the quahaugs for market4 ,the quahaug farm requires no such care as the agricultural farm1 and offers far more profit4 7#e7 ,advantage of ,quahaug ,culture4--,the quahaug is the most remunerative of any of our shellfish4 ,it possesses several advantages over the oyster3 7#a7 it is hardier1--less influenced by climatic conditions2 7#b7 it has fewer enemies1 as it lies protected under the sand2 7#c7 it possesses a market the whole year2 7#d7 there is more money for the planter in raising little necks than in raising oysters4 ,if oyster culture has succeeded in ,massachusetts1 there is no question that1 given a proper chance1 quahaug culture can be put on a firm basis1 and made the leading shellfish industry of ,massachusetts4 ,the value of the present quahaug industry lies chiefly in the production of little necks4 ,under a cultural system of quahaug farms1 this could be made a specialty4 ,old quahaugs would be kept as seeders1 and little necks alone raised for the market4 ,the advantage of furnishing little necks of uniform size would lead to increased prices2 steady customers would be obtained and certainty of production guaranteed4 ,all the advantages lie with quahaug farming1 as opposed to the present method of free-for-all digging4 ,the quahaug industry of the future1 if put on a cultural basis1 will not only check the decline of a valuable industry1 but will increase the present production many fold4 ,a far larger supply1 work for more men and better prices for the consumer will result4 7#f7 ,spat ,collecting4--,the main obstacle that stands in the way of permanent quahaug culture is a lack of sufficient young seed quahaugs4 ,while several heavy sets have been recorded1 the seed quahaugs are never found in vast quantities1 as are the young of the soft clam 7,mya arenaria74 ,the set of quahaugs is usually scattering and slight4 ,a method of spat collecting1 i4e41 catching the spawn and raising the small quahaugs1 is alone necessary for the complete success of quahaug culture4 ,while nothing of practical importance has yet been found1 indications are favorable that some means will be devised in the next few years1 and that quantities of young quahaugs can be raised4 ,experiments have already shown that as many as #ge can be caught per square foot in box spat collectors2 but a more practical method than this must be found to make the business profitable4 ,the ,quahaug ,industry4 ,methods of ,capture4--,several methods of taking quahaugs are in vogue in ,massachusetts1 some simple and primitive1 others more advanced and complex1 but all modifications of simple raking or digging4 ,these methods have arisen with the development of the industry1 and record the historical changes in the quahaug fishery1 as each new fishery or separate locality demands some modification of the usual methods4 7#a7 ,treading4--,the early settlers in ,massachusetts quickly learned from the ,indians the primitive method of treading quahaugs1 which required no implements except the hands and feet4 ,the treader catches the quahaug by wading about in the water1 feeling for them with his toes in the soft mud1 and then picking them up by hand4 ,nowhere in ,massachusetts is it used as a method of commercial fishery4 7#b7 ,tidal ,flat ,fishery4--,often quahaugs are found on the exposed tidal flats1 where they can sometimes be taken by hand1 but more often with ordinary clam hoes or short rakes4 ,owing to the scarcity of quahaugs between the tide lines1 this method does not pay for market fishing1 and is only resorted to by people who dig for home consumption4 7#c7 ,tonging4--,in most parts of ,buzzards ,bay and in a few places on ,cape ,cod quahaugs are taken with oyster tongs4 ,this method is applicable only in water less than #ab feet deep1 as the longest tongs measure but #af feet4 ,four sizes of tongs are used1 #h1 #aj1 #ab and #af feet in length4 ,tonging is carried on in the small coves and inlets1 where there is little if any rough water4 ,a muddy bottom is usually preferable1 as a firm1 hard soil increases the labor of manipulating the tongs1 which are used in the same manner as in tonging oysters4 7#d7 ,raking4--,the most universal method of taking quahaugs is with rakes4 ,this method is used in every quahaug locality in ,massachusetts1 each town having its special kind of rake4 ,four main types of rakes can be recognized3-- 7a7 ,the ,digger4--,in some localities1 chiefly in ,buzzards ,bay1 the ordinary potato digger or rake1 having four or five long1 thin prongs1 is used4 ,usually it has a back of wire netting1 which holds the quahaugs when caught by the prongs4 ,as the digger has a short handle of #e feet1 it can be used only in shallow water1 where the quahauger1 wading in the water1 turns out the quahaugs with this narrow rake4 ,this method yields but a scanty return1 and is more often used for home consumption than for market4 7b7 ,the ,garden ,rake4--,the ordinary garden rake1 equipped with a basket back of wire netting1 is in more general use in shallow water1 either by wading or from a boat1 as it has the advantage of being wider than the potato digger4 7c7 ,the ,claw ,rake4--,this type of rake varies in size1 width and length of handle4 ,it is used chiefly at ,nantucket4 ,the usual style has a handle #f feet long1 while the iron part in the form of a claw or talon is #aj inches wide1 with prongs #a inch apart4 ,heavier rakes with longer handles are sometimes used for deep water1 but for shallow water the usual form is the short-claw rake4 7d7 ,the ,basket ,rake4-,the greater part of the quahaug production is taken from deep water1 with the basket rake4 ,these rakes have handles running from #bc to #fe feet in length1 according to the depth of water over the beds4 ,where the water is of various depths1 several detachable handles of various lengths are used4 ,at the end of these long handles is a small cross-piece1 similar to the cross-piece of a lawn mower2 this enables the quahauger to obtain a strong pull when raking4 ,the handles are made of strong wood1 and are very thin and flexible1 not exceeding #a inches in diameter4 ,the price of these handles varies according to the length1 but the average price is about #b4 ,as the long handles break very easily1 great care must be taken in raking4 ,three forms of the basket rake are used in ,massachusetts4 ,these rakes vary greatly in form and size1 and it is merely a question of opinion which variety is the best1 as all are made on the same general principle1--a curved1 basket-shaped body1 the bottom edge of which is set with thin steel teeth4 ,the ,wellfleet and ,chatham ,rake4--,this rake is perhaps the most generally used for all deep-water quahauging on ,cape ,cod1 and finds favor with all4 ,it consists of an iron framework1 forming a curved bowl1 the under edge of which is set with thin steel teeth varying in length from #b to #d inches1 though usually #b-;inch teeth are the favorite4 ,formerly these teeth were made of iron1 but owing to the rapid wear it was found necessary to make them of steel4 ,over the bowl of this rake1 which is strengthened by side and cross pieces of iron1 is fitted a twine net1 which1 like the net of a scallop dredge1 drags behind the framework4 ,an average rake has from #ai to #ba teeth1 and weighs from #ae to #bj pounds4 ,edgartown ,basket ,rake4--,the basket rake used at ,edgartown and ,nantucket is lighter and somewhat smaller than the ,wellfleet rake4 ,the whole rake1 except the teeth1 is made of iron4 ,no netting is required1 as thin iron wires #a_/c inch apart encircle lengthwise the whole basket1 preventing the escape of any marketable quahaug1 and at the same time allowing the mud to wash out4 ,this rake has #af steel teeth1 #a inches long1 fitted at intervals of #a inch in the bottom scraping bar1 which is #af inches long2 the depth of the basket is about #h inches4 ,much shorter poles1 not exceeding #cj feet in length1 are used with this rake1 and the whole rake is much lighter4 ,the price of this rake is #g4ej1 while the poles cost #a4ej4 ,the third form of basket rake is a cross between the basket and claw rakes4 ,this rake is used both at ,nantucket and on ,cape ,cod1 but is not so popular as the other types4 ,the basket is formed by the curve of the prongs1 which are held together by two long cross-bars at the top and bottom of the basket1 while the ends are enclosed by short strips of iron4 ,this rake exemplifies the transition stage between the claw and basket types1 indicating that the basket form was derived from the former4 ,handles #bj to #cj feet long are generally used with these rakes4 ,shallow v4 ,deep ,water ,quahauging4--,two kinds of quahauging are found in ,massachusetts1--the deep and the shallow water fisheries4 ,this arbitrary distinction also permits a division of localities in regard to the principal methods of fishing4 ,although in all localities there exists more or less shallow-water fishing1 the main quahaug industry of several towns is the deep-water fishery4 ,in all the ,buzzards ,bay towns except ,fairhaven and ,new ,bedford the shallow-water fishery prevails2 this is also true of the south side of ,cape ,cod4 ,on the north side of ,cape ,cod the opposite is true1 as the quahauging at ,wellfleet1 ,eastham1 ,orleans and ,brewster is practically all deep-water fishing4 ,at ,edgartown and ,nantucket1 although there is considerable shallow-water digging1 the deep-water fishery is the more important4 ,the deep-water fishery is vastly more productive than the shallow-water industry1 furnishing annually #aah1ejj bushels1 compared to #bc1bbg bushels1 or more than #e times as much4 ,the deep-water fishery1 i4e41 the basket-rake fishery1 is the main quahaug fishery of the ,state1 and each year it is increasing1 because of the opening of new beds4 ,on the other hand1 the shallow-water grounds are rapidly becoming barren from overfishing4 ,the deep-water quahauging is harder work1 requires considerable capital but has fewer working days4 ,naturally the earnings from this fishery should surpass those of the shallow-water industry4 ,the deep-water quahauger averages from #e to #h for a working day1 while the shallow-water fisherman earns only from #b to #c per day4 ,deep-water ,quahauging4--,both power and sail boats are used in deep-water quahauging1 though power is gradually replacing the old method of sailing1 because of its increased efficiency and saving of time4 ,when the quahaug grounds are reached1 the boat is anchored at both bow and stern1 one continuous rope connecting both anchors1 which are from #ejj to #fjj feet apart1 in such a way that the bow of the boat is always headed against the tide4 ,a sufficient amount of slack is required for the proper handling of the boat1 which can be moved along this anchor road as on a cable1 and a large territory raked4 ,the rake is lowered from the bow of the boat1 the length of the handle being regulated by the depth of the water1 and the teeth worked into the sandy or muddy bottom4 ,the quahauger then takes firm hold of the cross-piece at the end of the handle1 and works the rake back to the stern of the boat1 where it is hauled in and the contents dumped on the culling board or picked out of the net4 ,in hauling in the net the rake is turned so that the opening is on top1 and the mud and sand is washed out before it is taken on board4 ,the long pole passes across the boat and extends into the water on the opposite side when the rake is hauled in4 ,this process is repeated until the immediate locality becomes unprofitable1 when the boat is shifted along the cable4 ,the usual time for quahauging is from half ebb to half flood tide1 thus avoiding the extra labor of high-water raking4 ,deep-water raking is especially hard labor1 and six hours constitute a good day's work4 ,boats4--,nearly all kinds of boats are utilized in the quahaug fishery1 and are of all values1 from the #aj second-hand skiff to the #ch-;foot power seine boat1 which costs #a1ejj4 ,the shallow-water industry requires but little invested capital4 ,dories and skiffs are the principal boats1 costing from #aj to #be4 ,occasionally a sail or power boat may be used in this fishery4 ,the deep-water industry requires larger and stronger boats4 ,these are either power or sail boats1 often auxiliary cats1 and their value runs anywhere from #aej to #a1ejj4 ,the average price for the sail boats is #bej1 while the power boats are assessed at #cej4 ,at ,orleans several large power seine boats1 valued at about #a1ejj1 are used in the quahaug fishery4 ,these seine boats are #cj to #ch feet over all1 have low double cabins1 and are run by #h to #ab horse-power gasolene engines4 ,the ordinary power boats have gasolene engines from #b to #f horse-power4 ,in this way each method of quahauging has its own boats1 which are adapted for its needs4 ,dredging4--,so far as known1 dredging is never used in quahauging in ,massachusetts1 although it is sometimes used on sea-clam beds4 ,it has been tried1 but without success1 chiefly because of the uneven nature of the bottom4 ,the invention of a suitable dredge is necessary1 and there can be little doubt that in the future1 if this difficulty is overcome1 dredging will be used in the quahaug fishery4 ,in #ahgi ,mr4 ,ernest ,ingersoll reports in ,rhode ,island the use of a quahaug dredge similar in structure to our rake4 ,evidently this form was never especially successful1 possibly because these dredges could not be dragged by sail boats4 ,outfit of a ,quahauger4--,the implements and boats used in quahauging have already been mentioned4 ,the outfit of the average quahauger in each fishery is here summarized3-- ,deep-water ,quahauging4 ,boat1 #cjj #b rakes1 #bj #c poles1 #f ----- #cbf ,shallow-water ,quahauging4 ,boat1 #bj ,tongs or rakes1 #c ,baskets1 #b ----- #be ,season4--,the quahaug fishery is essentially a summer fishery1 and little if any is done during the winter4 ,the season in ,massachusetts lasts for seven months1 usually starting the last of ,march or the first of ,april1 and ending about the first of ,november4 ,the opening of the spring season varies several weeks1 owing to the severity of the weather2 and the same is true of the closing of the season4 ,as a rule1 the ,buzzards ,bay industry1 where digging is done in the shallow waters of protected bays and coves1 using short rakes and tongs1 has a longer season than the quahaug industry of ,cape ,cod1 where the fishery is carried on in deep and open waters4 ,with the former1 the cold work and hardship alone force the quahaugers to stop fishing1 a long time after storms and rough weather have brought the latter industry to an end4 ,the actual working days of the deep-water quahauger number hardly over #ajj per season1 while those of the shallow-water fishermen easily outnumber #aej4 ,the deep-water quahauger's daily earnings are two or three times the daily wages of the shallow-water quahauger1 but the additional number of working days in part make up this difference4 ,the quahaug season can be divided arbitrarily into three parts3 7#a7 spring2 7#b7 summer2 7#c7 fall4 ,the spring season lasts from ,april #a to ,june #ae1 the summer season from ,june #ae to ,september #ae1 and the fall season from ,september #ae to ,november #a4 ,these seasons are marked by an increase in the number of quahaugers in the spring and fall4 ,the men who do summer boating quahaug in the spring before the summer people arrive1 and in the fall after the summer season is over4 ,the opening of the scallop season1 in towns that are fortunate enough to possess both industries1 marks the closing of the quahaug season4 ,these two industries join so well1 scalloping in the winter and quahauging in the summer1 that a shellfisherman has work practically all the year4 ,the ,principal ,markets4--,the principal markets for the sale of ,massachusetts quahaugs are ,boston and ,new ,york4 ,in #ahgi the ,boston market1 according to ,mr4 ,ernest ,ingersoll1 sold comparatively few4 ,at the present time the ,boston market disposes of many thousand bushels annually1 but nevertheless the greater part of the ,massachusetts quahaugs are shipped to ,new ,york4 ,this1 again1 is due to the better market prices offered by that city4 ,besides passing through these two main channels1 quahaugs are shipped direct from the coast dealers to various parts of the country1 especially the middle west4 ,this last method seems to be on the increase1 and the future may see a large portion of the quahaug trade carried on by direct inland shipments4 ,shipment4--,quahaugs are shipped either in second-hand sugar or flour barrels or in bushel bags4 ,the latter method is fast gaining popularity with the quahaugers and dealers1 owing to its cheapness1 and is now steadily used in some localities4 ,when quahaugs are shipped in barrels1 holes are made in the bottom and sides of the barrel1 to allow free circulation of air and to let the water out1 while burlap is used instead of wooden heads4 ,culls4--,several culls are made for the market4 ,these vary in number in different localities and with different firms1 but essentially are modifications of the three culls made by the quahaugers3 7#a7 little necks2 7#b7 sharps2 7#c7 blunts4 ,the divisions made by the firm of ,a4 ,d4 ,davis ,co4 of ,wellfleet are as follows3 7#a7 little necks1 small1 #a-b inches2 large1 #b-c inches2 7#b7 medium sharps1 #c-c inches2 7#c7 large sharps1 #c inches up2 7#d7 small blunts2 7#e7 large blunts4 ,price4--,the prices received by the quahaugers are small1 compared with the retail prices4 ,little necks fetch from #b4ej to #d per bushel1 sharps and small blunts from #a4aj to #b1 and large blunts from #hj cents to #a4ej1 according to the season1 fall and spring prices necessarily being higher than in summer4 ,the price depends wholly upon the supply in the market1 and varies greatly1 although the little necks are fairly constant1 as the demand for these small quahaugs is very great4 ,to what excess the demand for little necks has reached can best be illustrated by a comparison between the price of #c paid to the quahauger per bushel1 and the actual price1 #ej1 paid for the same by the consumer in the hotel restaurants4 ,bedding ,quahaugs for ,market4--,by town laws in ,orleans1 ,eastham and ,wellfleet1 each quahauger may1 upon application1 secure from the selectmen a license1 giving him not more than #ge feet square of tidal flat upon which to bed his catch of quahaugs4 ,while no positive protection is guaranteed1 public opinion recognizes the right of each man to his leased area1 and this alone affords sufficient protection for the success of this communal effort1 which is the first step by the people toward quahaug farming4 ,the quahauger needs only to spread his catch on the surface1 and within two tides the quahaugs will have buried themselves in the sand4 ,here they will remain1 with no danger of moving away1 as the quahaug moves but little4 ,the quahauger loses nothing by this replanting1 as not only do the quahaugs remain in a healthy condition1 but even grow in their new environment4 ,the result of this communal attempt at quahaug culture is beneficial4 ,while the market price for little necks is almost always steady1 the price of the larger quahaugs fluctuates considerably1 and the market often becomes glutted4 ,this would naturally result in a severe loss to the quahauger if he were forced to keep shipping at a low price4 ,as it is1 the fortunate quahauger who possesses such a grant merely replants his daily catch until the market prices rise to their proper level4 ,an additional advantage is gained by the quahauger1 who at the end of the season has his grant well stocked1 as higher prices are then offered4 ,as many as #a1jjj barrels are often held this way at the end of the season4 ,food ,value4--,see food value table in scallop report4 ,uses4--,besides its many uses as a food1 raw1 cooked and canned1 the quahaug is of little importance in ,massachusetts4 7#a7 ,for bait the soft clam 7,mya arenaria7 is generally preferred1 and but few quahaugs are used for this purpose4 7#b7 ,the shell was once prized by the ,indians for their wampum2 now it is occasionally used for ornamental purposes4 7#c7 ,oystermen use it for cultch when they can get nothing better2 though more fragile shells are usually preferred1 so that the masses of oyster set can be easily broken apart4 7#d7 ,shell roads are occasionally made from quahaug shells4 ,possibly lime could be profitably obtained4 ,history of ,quahaug ,industry in ,massachusetts4 ,south of ,plymouth harbor quahaugs have always been plentiful along the shores of ,cape ,cod1 ,buzzards ,bay and the islands of ,nantucket and ,martha's ,vineyard4 ,frequent shell heaps show that the ,indians were accustomed to use this mollusk as a food1 and even indulged in an occasional clam bake4 ,colonial records show us that the early colonists were not slow in learning to tread out this mollusk from the mud flats4 ,the shells of the quahaug were much prized by the ,indians for wampum beads1 because of their purplish color4 ,although reckoned inferior by many to the soft clam 7,mya arenaria71 the quahaug was dug for home consumption for years in ,massachusetts1 and but little attempt was made to put it on the market4 ,the commercial quahaug fishery started on ,cape ,cod1 about the first of the nineteenth century1 growing in extent until about #ahfj4 ,from #ahfj to #ahij the production remained about constant4 ,the production in #ahgi for ,massachusetts1 as given by ,a4 ,howard ,clark1 totaled #aa1jej bushels1 valued at #e1ebe4 ,it is only in the last fifteen to twenty years that the actual development of the quahaug fishery has taken place4 ,the present production of ,massachusetts is #add1jdd bushels1 valued at #aid1fhg4 ,to the popular demand for the little neck can be attributed the rapid development of the quahaug industry during the last ten years4 ,this development has furnished employment for hundreds of men1 and has given the quahaug an important value as a sea food4 ,what it will lead to is easily seen4 ,the maximum production was passed a few years ago1 constant overfishing caused by an excessive demand is destroying the natural supply1 and there will in a few years be practically no commercial fishery1 unless measures are taken to increase the natural supply4 ,quahaug farming offers the best solution at the present time1 and gives promise of permanent success4 ,the following statistics1 taken from the ,united ,states ,fish ,commission reports1 show the rapidity of the development of the quahaug fishery3-- ,,date4 ,bushels4 ,value4 ,price 7,cents74 ---------------------------------------- ------------ #ahgi1 #aa1jej #e1ebe #ej4j #ahhg1 #ce1edj #ba1cfc #fj4j #ahhh1 #bf1afe #ad1hbb #ef4e #ahih1 #fc1hag #ej1gbd #gi4e #aijb1 #ajf1hah #aca1aci #abd4j #aije1 #aff1ebf #bhh1ihg #aee4j ,not only has there been an increase in production1 but also an increase in price1 as can be seen from the above table1 which shows that the price has more than doubled between #ahhh and #aijb4 ,this increase in price has alone supported a declining fishery in many towns1 making it still profitable for quahaugers to keep in the business1 in spite of a much smaller catch4 ,the advance in price is due both to the natural rise in the value of food products during the past twenty-five years and also to the popular demand for the little neck1 or small quahaug4 ,state ,laws4--,there are no ,state laws governing the quahaug fishery1 except the regulations of the ,state ,board of ,health in regard to sewage pollution in ,acushnet ,river and ,boston ,harbor4 ,town ,laws4--,regulation of the quahaug fishery was given to each town by the ,state under the general shellfish act of #ahhj2 the industry is therefore entirely governed under the by-laws of the town4 ,an interesting comparison can be made between the quahaug regulations of the different towns4 ,good1 useless and harmful laws exist side by side4 ,one town will pass excellent regulations1 and enforce them2 another town will make the same1 but never trouble to see that they are observed4 ,edgartown enforces the #a-;inch quahaug law2 ,orleans1 ,eastham and ,wellfleet have the same law1 but fail to enforce it4 ,many towns allow the small seed quahaugs to be caught and shipped out of the ,state1 thus losing #d to every #a gained4 ,these towns refuse to make any regulation1 such as a simple size limit1 which would remedy this matter1 and have no thought for the future of their quahaug industry4 ,all that can be said is that the quahaug laws are the best of the town shellfish regulations1 and that is but faint praise4 ,statistics of the ,quahaug ,fishery4 ,in the following table the towns are arranged in alphabetical order1 and the list includes only those towns which now possess a commercial quahaug fishery4 ,in giving the number of men1 both transient and regular quahaugers are included4 ,in estimating the capital invested1 the boats1 implements1 shanties and gear of the quahauger are alone considered1 and personal apparel1 such as oilskins1 boots1 etc41 are not taken into account4 ,the value of the production for each town is based upon what the quahaugers receive for their quahaugs1 and not the price they bring in the market4 ,the area of quahaug territory given for each town includes all ground where quahaugs are found1 both thick beds and scattering quahaugs4 ,,town4 ,number ,capital ,number,number #aijg ,,production4 ,value of invested4 of of --------------- ,area of ,men4 ,boats4,dories ,bushels4 ,value4 in ,yield and ,acres4 per ,skiffs4 ,acre4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------- ,barnstable1 #be #hej - #be #b1ejj #c1gjj #iej #c4ie ,bourne1 #df #a1jjj - #df #e1djj #h1djj #b1ejj #c4cf ,chatham1 #ej #e1gej #be #be #f1gjj #aj1jjj #b1jjj #e4jj ,dennis1 #ae #aej - #aj #ejj #iej #bjj #d4ge ,eastham1 #be #h1jjj #ab - #aj1jjj #aa1ejj #d1jjj #b4hg ,edgartown1 #gj #ab1jjj #db #ah #bj1jjj #cb1jjj #a1hjj #ag4gg ,fairhaven1 #aae #e1jjj #aa #ajj #ae1jjj #af1ejj #c1jjj #e4ej ,falmouth1 - - - - #ajj #aae #djj 4#bi ,harwich1 #g #bjj - #g #a1ejj #b1eej #ajj #be4ej ,marion1 #ai #bej - #ai #hjj #a1ejj #djj #c4ge ,mashpee1 #g #gj - #e #bej #bhe #djj 4#ga ,mattapoisett1 #bh #ejj - #bh #hjj #a1ejj #gej #b4jj ,nantucket1 #dh #f1gej #cj #aj #f1bid #h1dhg #e1bij #a4fj ,orleans1 #ge #be1jjj #cj #be #cc1jjj #da1cej #a1ejj #bg4ef ,wareham1 #ej #a1jjj - #ej #f1jjj #aj1ejj #a1cjj #h4jh ,wellfleet1 #ade #bg1ejj #ajj - #cc1jjj #da1cej #b1ejj #af4ed ,yarmouth1 #bj #bdj - #aj #b1bjj #d1jjj #a1jjj #d4jj ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------- ,average ,totals1 #gde #id1bfj #bej #cgh #add1jddaid1fhgbh1jij #f4ic ,barnstable4 ,barnstable1 with its extensive bays both on the north or bay side and on the south or ,vineyard ,sound side1 offers great possibilities for quahaug production4 ,although the quahaug ranks1 in productive value1 the third shellfish industry of ,barnstable1 the natural resources permit an expansion under cultural methods which would place the quahaug ahead of the oyster1 which at the present time is the leading shellfish industry of the town4 ,in ,barnstable harbor1 on the north coast of the town1 a few quahaugs are found scattered in isolated patches4 7,see ,map ,no4 #i47 ,these are relatively of small importance commercially1 and no regular fishery is carried on4 ,in the future the vast barren flats of this harbor may be made productive of quahaugs as well as clams1 although at present the total area of quahaug grounds is hardly #e acres4 ,the greater part of the quahaug industry of ,barnstable is conducted on the south shore of the township1 which is especially adapted1 with its coves and inlets1 for the successful growth of this shellfish4 ,the principal fishery is in ,cotuit harbor and ,west ,bay1 and is chiefly shared by the villages of ,osterville1 ,marston's ,mills and ,cotuit1 which lie on the east1 north and west sides1 respectively1 of the bay4 ,while the greater part of ,cotuit harbor is taken up by oyster grants1 there are certain parts1 though limited in area1 which are set aside for quahauging4 ,the principal area for quahauging is the flat which runs along ,oyster ,island4 ,this was originally an oyster grant taken out by ,wendell ,nickerson1 and thrown open to quahaugers to protect the quahaug interests from the oyster planters4 ,this territory1 which comprises #gj acres1 is mostly hard sand4 ,directly west in the center of the harbor lies a strip of #hj acres of mud and eel grass1 where both quahaugs and scallops abound4 ,the depth of water on quahauging grounds varies from #a to #ad feet4 ,scattering quahaugs are found also in ,osterville harbor1 ,west ,bay1 ,popponesset ,river and ,east ,bay4 ,this bottom is practically all sand1 and comprises a total of #a1fej acres4 ,this cannot all be considered good quahaug ground1 although quahaugs can occasionally be found4 ,at ,hyannis the quahaug grounds are confined to ,lewis ,bay1 where they cover an area of #hjj acres4 ,the quahaugs lie in scattered patches over this area1 but in no place is there especially good quahauging4 ,the bottom is hard1 usually sandy1 with patches of eel grass1 while the average depth of water is hardly more than #f feet4 ,in ,osterville ,bay about #bj men1 in ,lewis ,bay about #e1 using the same number of dories1 make a business of quahauging in the summer months4 ,three styles of implements are used3 7#a7 oyster tongs1 varying from #h to #af feet1 according to the depth of water2 7#b7 large basket rakes1 with #cj-;foot handles2 7#c7 ordinary garden rakes1 with wire basket1 for shallow-water digging4 ,at ,cotuit the quahaugs run one-third little necks1 one-third mediums and one-third large4 ,here several men1 using long-handled rakes1 make from #c to #e per day in favorable weather4 ,the markets are principally ,new ,york and ,boston1 where the quahaugs are shipped1 mostly in sacks1 which is a cheaper and better way than shipment in barrels4 ,here the quahaug season lasts from ,april #a to ,november #a1 most of the work being done in the summer1 when the oyster business is at a standstill4 ,there are no town laws governing the quahaug fishery1 other than forbidding a non-resident of the town the right of quahauging2 and no licenses are required4 ,no records of the history of the quahaug industry at ,barnstable can be found4 ,a4 ,howard ,clark in #ahgi makes the following brief statement1 which is the only record obtainable3-- ,both soft clams and quahaugs are found in the harbor ,osterville harbor1 but no considerable fishing for them is carried on4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,area of quahaug territory 7acres71 #iej ,number of men1 #be ,number of boats1 - ,value of boats1 - ,number of dories1 #be ,value of dories1 #ejj ,value of implements1 #cej ,production4 ,little necks3-- ,bushels1 #hjj ,value1 #b1jjj ,quahaugs3-- ,bushels1 #a1gjj ,value1 #a1gjj ,total3-- ,bushels1 #b1ejj ,value1 #c1gjj ,bourne4 ,the town of ,bourne was formerly included in the town of ,sandwich1 and many old laws relating to shellfish1 such as oyster regulation in ,barlow ,river1 were enacted by the town of ,sandwich4 ,situated at the head of ,buzzards ,bay1 and separated from the adjacent town of ,wareham by ,cohasset ,narrows1 ,bourne has many advantages for a profitable quahaug industry4 ,it possesses nearly twice as much quahaug territory as ,wareham1 but1 as most of this lies unproductive1 has a smaller annual output4 ,the territory includes over #b1ejj acres of ground1 most of which consists of flats of mud1 sand and eel grass1 covered with shallow water4 ,it is very sparsely set with quahaugs4 ,outside the oyster grants practically the entire stretch of coast from ,buttermilk ,bay to ,wings ,neck is quahauging ground1 as can be seen on ,map ,no4 #ag4 ,other quahaug grounds lie between ,basset's ,island1 ,scraggy ,neck and ,handy's ,point4 ,it is our opinion that this large territory1 which to-day yields on the average less than #c4ej per acre1 in the future1 under cultivation1 can be made to yield an average of #ajj per acre1 thereby bringing into the town of ,bourne a yearly income of at least #bej1jjj1 and furnishing labor for hundreds of men4 ,about #df men are engaged in the quahaug fishery of ,bourne1 using the same number of skiffs and dories1 which represent approximately an investment of #hge4 ,the fishery lasts usually seven months during the summer1 ,april #a to ,november #a1 while the winter digging is of small account4 ,practically all the digging is done in comparatively shallow water1 with short-handled rakes or tongs4 ,rather more than a third of the quahaugs appear to be little necks1 while the mediums constitute one-tenth of the total catch4 ,blunts are of little consequence4 ,the selectmen issue permits for the taking of quahaugs and clams4 ,in #aijf1 #df permits were issued1 entitling the holder to #aj bushels of clams and #aj bushels of quahaugs per week4 ,there is little to be said concerning the history of the ,bourne quahaug industry1 as no early records exist4 ,its development has been similar to that of the industries of the other ,buzzards ,bay towns4 ,during the last few years the ,bourne fishery1 unlike most of the towns on ,buzzards ,bay1 has shown signs of increasing4 ,this is not due1 however1 to any increase in the natural supply1 but to the decline of the oyster industry1 which gives more opportunity to the quahaugers4 ,the same antagonistic feeling that is prevalent in ,wareham exists here between the oystermen and quahaugers4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,area of quahaug territory 7acres71 #b1ejj ,number of men1 #df ,number of boats1 - ,value of boats1 - ,number of skiffs1 #df ,value of skiffs1 #hge ,value of implements1 #abe ,production4 ,little necks3-- ,bushels1 #b1jjj ,value1 #e1jjj ,quahaugs3-- ,bushels1 #c1djj ,value1 #c1djj ,total3-- ,bushels1 #e1djj ,value1 #h1djj ,chatham4 ,chatham is favorably situated in regard to the quahaug fishery1 as this shellfish is found in the waters on the north and south sides of the town4 ,the grounds are extensive1 covering about #b1jjj acres1 the greater part of which consists of the vast area south of the town known as the ,common ,flats4 ,the quahauging grounds are in four localities3 7#a7 ,pleasant ,bay2 7#b7 ,mill ,pond2 7#c7 ,stage ,harbor2 7#d7 ,common ,flats4 7#a7 ,part of the waters of ,pleasant ,bay belong to the town of ,chatham4 ,in an arm of this bay1 known as ,crows ,pond1 the best ,pleasant ,bay fishery is carried on in water varying from #f to #af feet in depth4 7#b7 ,an excellent little neck fishery is carried on in the upper part of the ,mill ,pond1 in comparatively shallow water1 comprising an area of #c acres4 ,on these bars in #aije there was a very heavy set of small quahaugs1 which were rapidly taken up before they had a chance to attain to a fair size4 7#c7 ,quahaugs are raked on the west side of ,stage ,harbor in #e to #ae feet of water1 in an area of #d acres of muddy bottom4 7#d7 ,the ,common ,flats comprise #a1gjj acres1 and are covered at low tide by a depth of only #a to #b feet of water4 ,quahaugs are found throughout this territory in scattering quantities1 but practically all is good quahaug ground except the shifting outer part of the flat4 ,the soil varies from a pure sand to a sandy mud1 and in parts is thickly covered with eel grass1 which makes raking hard4 ,this area offers one of the best opportunities for successful quahaug planting in the ,state4 ,the area is large1 seed can be obtained easily and quahaugs grow well in this locality4 ,if it were not for the lack of protection1 ,chatham could establish one of the best quahaug industries in the ,state by leasing out the ,common ,flats for planting purposes4 ,quahaugs are taken at ,chatham only with rakes4 ,in the deep water in ,crows ,pond and in ,stage ,harbor basket rakes are used2 but in the shallow water on the ,common ,flats and in the ,mill ,pond the usual implement is an ordinary garden rake1 with wire netting basket4 ,handles from #bj to #be feet in length are used with the basket rakes4 ,the quahaug industry has existed in ,chatham for the past twelve years4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,area of quahaug territory 7acres71 #b1jjj ,number of men1 #ej ,number of boats1 #be ,value of boats1 #e1jjj ,number of dories1 #be ,value of dories1 #cej ,value of implements1 #djj ,production4 ,little necks3-- ,bushels1 #b1bjj ,value1 #e1ejj ,quahaugs3-- ,bushels1 #d1ejj ,value1 #d1ejj ,total3-- ,bushels1 #f1gjj ,value1 #aj1jjj ,dartmouth4 ,the quahaug industry of ,dartmouth is of little consequence4 ,in #aijg1 #cbj permits were granted1 mostly to ,new ,bedford fishermen for bait4 ,dennis4 ,the quahauging grounds of ,dennis are practically all in ,bass ,river1 where ,dennis has equal fishery rights with ,yarmouth4 ,the area of these grounds is #bjj acres1 with a maximum depth of #f feet of water over the beds4 ,the history of the industry is the same as that of ,yarmouth1 as the two industries are closely associated1 and a similar decline has resulted4 ,the laws for both towns are the same4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,area of quahaug territory 7acres71 #bjj ,number of men 7transient71 #ae ,number of boats1 - ,value of boats1 - ,number of skiffs1 #aj ,value of skiffs1 #ajj ,value of implements1 #ej ,production4 ,little necks3-- ,bushels1 #cjj ,value1 #gej ,quahaugs3-- ,bushels1 #bjj ,value1 #bjj ,total3-- ,bushels1 #ejj ,value1 #iej ,eastham4 ,eastham is similar to ,orleans in situation1 possessing a good coast line on both the east and west1 which affords excellent opportunities for the quahaug fishery4 ,on the west or bay side are extensive beds of quahaugs1 for the most part blunts1 extending into deep water for nearly #c miles4 ,this quahauging territory comprises about #d1jjj acres1 which is open to the quahaugers of both ,wellfleet and ,orleans4 ,while scattering quahaugs are found over approximately all this territory1 the fishery is conducted in only certain definite places4 ,in ,nauset harbor on the east side during the season of #aijf numerous beds of little necks1 about the #a-;inch size1 were discovered4 ,it is thought that these came from the spawn of certain quahaugs which the life savers were accustomed to bed in the harbor for their own use4 ,these quahaugs were torn up and scattered by the ice during a severe winter1 and in this way the nucleus of a new fishery was formed4 ,two men who discovered the best of these beds cleared #fj in one week4 ,on the west coast of the town #be men commonly dig with long-handled rakes4 ,these fishermen work at quahauging about #ajj days in the year1 and average from #e to #f bushels per day4 ,power boats are used for the most part1 although the boats are not so large or expensive as those of the ,orleans fishermen1 for the ,eastham quahauger digs in the more sheltered waters of ,wellfleet ,bay4 ,the production for #aijf was #aj1jjj bushels1 but this does not give the true yield of the ,eastham flats1 as the ,wellfleet and ,orleans fishermen rake to a great extent in ,eastham waters1 and so many more bushels are actually taken within the town limits4 ,the town laws of ,eastham are the same as those of ,wellfleet4 7,see ,wellfleet47 ,the history of the ,eastham quahaug industry is so closely connected with that of ,orleans and ,wellfleet that no additional features require mention4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,area of quahaug territory 7acres71 #d1jjj ,number of men1 #be ,number of boats1 #ab ,value of boats1 #g1cge ,number of dories1 - ,value of dories1 - ,value of implements1 #fbe ,production4 ,little necks3-- ,bushels1 #a1jjj ,value1 #b1ejj ,quahaugs3-- ,bushels1 #i1jjj ,value1 #i1jjj ,total3-- ,bushels1 #aj1jjj ,value1 #aa1ejj ,edgartown4 ,the finest little neck fishery in ,massachusetts is found in ,katama ,bay1 in the town of ,edgartown4 ,two-fifths of the entire catch are little necks4 ,the most productive grounds are situated in the lower part of ,katama ,bay1 while quahaugs are also found in ,edgartown harbor and in ,cape ,poge ,pond1 the total area of these localities comprising #a1hjj acres4 ,the fishing is mostly done from power dories or sail boats with basket rakes4 ,poles from #bj to #be feet long are used1 as the water over the beds is less than #bj feet deep4 ,some quahaugs are taken in the shallow water with small claw rakes4 ,the catch is shipped to the ,new ,york and ,boston markets4 ,the quahaug industry of ,edgartown is the best-regulated shellfish industry in ,massachusetts4 ,if excellent care had not been taken of the little neck fishery of ,katama ,bay by enforcing a size limit of #a inches1 through the employment of a special shellfish warden1 the quahaug fishery of ,edgartown would have been ruined long ago by the exportation of small seed quahaugs4 ,to-day the number of small quahaugs which are returned to the water greatly exceeds the amount of marketable quahaugs taken4 ,this is the only case in ,massachusetts where the quahaug fishery1 by careful regulations of the town1 has maintained an undiminished supply4 ,if other towns had taken similar care of their quahaug fisheries in the past1 the general decline of the industry in this ,state would never have become so serious4 ,the following is a copy of the shellfish permit1 which every ,edgartown quahauger is required to take out1 at the cost of #b1 before he can rake quahaugs for market4 ,any man over sixty years old obtains his permit free4 ,this permit should serve as a model for other towns4 ,,shellfish ,,permit4 ,,town ,,of ,,edgartown1 ,,selectmen',s ,,office1 #aij4 ,in consideration of having received from of ,edgartown the sum of #b1 permission is hereby granted to him to take from any of the waters of this town daily1 between sunrise and sunset1 twenty-five bushels of scallops or clams1 including shells1 and four bushels1 including shells1 of quahaugs2 of these four bushels1 not more than two bushels are to be of the size known as little necks4 ,the acceptance of this permit constitutes an agreement by the holder thereof that he will1 and that any other person who for the time being has or shall have in his custody or possession any building1 boat1 barrel1 box1 tub1 crate or other vessel or receptacle containing or suitable for or capable of containing shellfish1 and belonging to or under the control of the holder of this permit1 shall1 at any time or place when requested so to do by either of said selectmen or by their authorized agent1 or by any constable or fish warden of said town1 or by any other officer authorized to enforce the laws relating to shellfish or shellfisheries in said town1 open any such building1 boat1 barrel1 box1 tub1 crate or other vessel or receptacle1 and fully expose to them or either of them the contents thereof for inspection2 and if the holder of this permit or such other person as aforesaid1 when so requested1 refuses or neglects so to do1 said selectmen may revoke this permit or suspend the same for any stated time1 at their discretion4 ,the holder of this permit is subject to the regulations for the taking of eels and shellfish as made and posted by the selectmen1 and also to any additional regulations which said board may hereafter make and publish4 ,if the person having this permit for the taking of shellfish violates any law of the ,commonwealth or any regulation now or hereafter made by said selectmen1 relating to shellfish or shellfisheries in said town1 said selectmen may revoke said permit1 or suspend the same for any stated time at their discretion4 ,no person is allowed by law to take from the waters of said town1 or to sell or offer for sale1 or to have in his possession1 any little neck clams or quahaugs measuring less than one and one-half inches across the widest part4 ,any person violating this provision of law is liable to a fine of not less than ten nor more than one hundred dollars4 ,this permit will expire ,april #a1 #aij 1 unless sooner revoked4 ,selectmen of ,edgartown4 ,ernest ,ingersoll in #ahgi makes the following statement concerning the quahaug fishery of ,martha's ,vineyard3-- ,martha's ,vineyard used to be bordered by good quahaug ground1 but ,i am not aware that many are caught there now4 ,in an old book ,i find the following allusion to it3 ,the poquau 7,venus mercenaria7 is found in ,old ,town ,harbor1 at ,cape ,poge1 and in ,menemsha ,pond3 great quantities are exported4 ,a4 ,howard ,clark in #ahgi says3-- ,soft clams and quahaugs are abundant in the harbor1 and are used by the fishermen for bait4444 ,three hundred bushels of quahaugs and sea clams1 valued at #aej1 were taken during the year #ahgi4 ,if such were the conditions in #ahgi1 the industry has had a great development4 ,to-day ,edgartown is one of the best quahaug towns of the ,state1 and produces the finest little necks4 ,comparing the production figures of #ahgi and #aijg1 a great increase is noted3-- ,production1 #ahgi4 ,bushels1 #cjj ,value1 #aej ,production1 #aijg4 ,bushels1 #bj1jjj ,value1 #cb1jjj ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,area of quahaug territory 7acres71 #a1hjj ,number of men1 #gj ,number of boats1 #db ,value of boats1 #aj1ejj ,number of dories1 #ah ,value of dories1 #dej ,value of implements1 #a1jej ,production4 ,little necks3-- ,bushels1 #h1jjj ,value1 #bj1jjj ,quahaugs3-- ,bushels1 #ab1jjj ,value1 #ab1jjj ,total3-- ,bushels1 #bj1jjj ,value1 #cb1jjj ,fairhaven4 ,at ,fairhaven the quahaug industry is of considerable importance1 and the output from this town alone is nearly half the entire production of ,buzzards ,bay4 ,some #c1jjj acres are more or less bedded with quahaugs4 ,of this1 probably not more than one-tenth is very productive4 ,the best quahauging is in ,acushnet ,river1 where digging for market has been forbidden because of sewage pollution 7see ,new ,bedford71 and in ,priests ,cove as far as ,sconticut ,neck4 ,in these grounds little necks are numerous4 ,the grounds around ,west ,island and ,long ,island1 once very productive1 are now largely dug out4 ,little ,bay and the east coast of ,sconticut ,neck are fairly productive1 while the west coast yields only a small amount4 ,most of the quahaugs now dug come from the deep water west-southwest of ,sconticut ,neck4 ,here1 with rakes having handles from #dj to #fj feet long1 the quahaugers dig in water #g fathoms or more in depth4 ,the quahaugs1 mostly large sharps1 are in bluish mud or sticky bottom1 and are all large4 ,a number of blunts are found with these large sharps4 ,in the ,acushnet ,river1 owing to the enforced closed season1 there are a large number of little necks4 ,about #aae men are employed now in quahauging4 ,before the ,acushnet ,river was closed by law1 over twice that number are reported to have been engaged in the business4 ,six power boats and five cat boats1 besides a considerable number of skiffs and dories1 are used in the fishery4 ,no permits are required for ordinary quahauging except in the prescribed territory of ,acushnet ,river1 where permits to catch a certain amount for bait are given as in ,new ,bedford4 ,the production for #ahgi1 as given by ,a4 ,howard ,clark in ,the ,fisheries of ,massachusetts1 was #c1jjj bushels1 which is just one-fifth of the present production4 ,the supply of quahaugs has decreased the last few years1 though new territory is constantly being opened up1 as the quahaugers go out further into the deeper water4 ,the increased price1 however1 probably more than counterbalances the decline in production4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,area of quahaug territory 7acres71 #c1jjj ,number of men1 #aae ,number of boats1 #aa ,value of boats1 #b1fjj ,number of skiffs1 #ajj ,value of skiffs1 #a1ejj ,value of implements1 #ijj ,production4 ,little necks3-- ,bushels1 #a1jjj ,value1 #b1ejj ,quahaugs3-- ,bushels1 #ad1jjj ,value1 #ad1jjj ,total3-- ,bushels1 #ae1jjj ,value1 #af1ejj ,falmouth4 ,there is practically no quahaug industry in ,falmouth4 ,hardly #ajj bushels are dug annually1 and those only for home consumption4 ,a few quahaugs are perhaps shipped by the oystermen4 ,this town1 with its numerous inlets1 bays and brackish water ponds1 offers perhaps as fine an opportunity for shellfish culture1 especially for quahaugs1 as exists in ,massachusetts4 ,there is no reason why the water of ,waquoit ,bay and the other brackish ponds should not produce a great supply of quahaugs1 if properly worked4 ,quahaugs are found mostly in scattering quantities over a large area in ,waquoit ,bay and in small quantities on the north and west side of ,great ,pond1 comprising a total of nearly #djj acres4 ,not all this ground1 which is the greater part mud1 is capable of producing quahaugs1 but many parts could produce good harvests4 ,on the bay side of the town small patches of good quahaugs are found at ,north ,falmouth1 ,squeteague ,pond1 ,west ,falmouth harbor on the southeast side1 and a few are found in ,hadley harbor1 ,naushon4 ,these1 together with the small patches in ,great ,pond1 comprise about #a acre of good quahaug ground1 and are mostly dug by summer people4 ,in the past twenty-five years there has been a great decline in the quahaug industry1 especially in ,waquoit ,bay1 which to-day barely produces #ej bushels4 ,a4 ,howard ,clark states1 in #ahgi3g-- ,quahaugs are plenty in ,waquoit ,bay1 and are gathered and eaten by the villagers1 but none are shipped4 ,it is estimated that about #ejj bushels of quahaugs are annually consumed by the people of ,falmouth town4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,area of quahaug territory 7acres71 #djj ,number of men1 -- ,number of boats1 -- ,value of boats1 -- ,number of dories1 -- ,value of dories1 -- ,value of implements1 -- ,production4 ,little necks3-- ,bushels1 #aj ,value1 #be ,quahaugs3-- ,bushels1 #ij ,value1 #ij ,total3-- ,bushels1 #ajj ,value1 #aae ,harwich4 ,the quahaug fishery of the town of ,harwich is carried on in that part of ,pleasant ,bay which lies within the town limits4 ,in the southern waters of the town1 on the ,sound side1 scattering quahaugs are found in certain localities1 but are not of any commercial importance4 ,the most important of those localities are off ,dean's ,creek and in ,herring ,river1 where quahaugs are dug for home consumption4 ,harwich shares with ,chatham and ,orleans the quahaug fishery of ,pleasant ,bay1 but has a more limited territory1 as only a small portion of ,pleasant ,bay lies within the town limits4 ,practically all this territory1 comprising #ajj acres1 is quahauging ground1 though the commercial quahauging is prosecuted over an area of #aj acres only4 ,scattering quahaugs are found over an area of #ajj acres4 ,as the waters of ,pleasant ,bay are sheltered1 the fishing is all done from dories1 with basket rakes having #bj to #be foot poles4 ,the depth of water over the quahaug beds is from #f to #af feet4 ,in regard to the quahaug fishery in ,pleasant ,bay1 ,mr4 ,warren ,j4 ,nickerson of ,east ,harwich1 who has been acquainted with the industry for many years1 says3-- ,pleasant ,bay is and has been a very valuable quahaug ground4 ,some fifty years ago there were shipped in vessels to ,new ,haven and other places #ac1jjj bushels in one year from its waters4 ,since then there has been more or less taken from these waters by fishermen from the towns of ,orleans1 ,chatham and ,harwich4 ,during the last few years there have been #be regular fishermen and perhaps #ab transient4 ,probably #h1jjj bushels a year for the last five years would be a fair estimate of the catch4 ,thirty per cent of these were little necks4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,area of quahaug territory 7acres71 #ajj ,number of men1 #g ,number of boats1 -- ,value of boats1 -- ,number of dories1 #g ,value of dories1 #ajj ,value of implements1 #ajj ,production4 ,little necks3-- ,bushels1 #gjj ,value1 #a1gej ,quahaugs3-- ,bushels1 #hjj ,value1 #hjj ,total3-- ,bushels1 #a1ejj ,value1 #b1eej ,marion4 ,the town of ,marion1 situated on the western side of ,buzzards ,bay1 possesses a spacious harbor1 the waters of which furnish excellent quahaug grounds4 ,this territory1 comprising a total of #djj acres1 is chiefly confined to ,marion harbor1 running in a narrow strip parallel to the shore from ,aucoot ,cove all along the coast to ,planting ,island4 ,almost all the head of the harbor and all of ,blankinship's and ,planting ,island ,cove is quahaug area4 ,small grounds are also found at ,wing's ,cove and in the ,weweantit ,river4 ,the town law requires each year the possession of a permit costing #a before a person is entitled to dig quahaugs for sale4 ,nineteen of these licenses were issued in #aijf1 but not more than #b or #c of these went to men who depend upon quahauging for a living4 ,the remaining #af engage in the fishery to a greater or lesser extent in the summer season4 ,the annual production for #aijf was #hjj bushels1 valued at #a1ejj1 as about half were little necks4 ,mediums are not numerous1 and are bought by the quahaug dealers at #a4be per bushel and sold by them at so much per hundred4 ,in ,marion the quahaug industry once flourished to a marked degree1 but at present is very much on the decline4 ,the coves1 which once were bedded with little necks and quahaugs1 are now nearly exhausted4 ,no reasons exist for this condition of affairs1 so far as known1 except overdigging4 ,gradually for many years the supply has perceptibly declined1 until now it is at a very low ebb4 ,where a thousand barrels were formerly produced1 it is doubtful if a thousand bushels are now dug during the entire season1 and the overworked beds are becoming each year more depleted4 ,a4 ,howard ,clark1 in his report on the fisheries of ,marion1 estimates the quahaug production in #ahhj as #b1jjj bushels4 ,the yield for #aijf is only #hjj bushels1 which shows an alarming decline in production4 ,if once the waters of ,marion could produce a large amount of quahaugs1 there is no reason why they cannot again be made to produce the same1 or more4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,area of quahaug territory 7acres71 #djj ,number of men1 #ai ,number of boats1 -- ,value of boats1 -- ,number of skiffs1 #ai ,value of skiffs1 #bjj ,value of implements1 #ej ,production4 ,little necks3-- ,bushels1 #djj ,value1 #a1ajj ,quahaugs3-- ,bushels1 #djj ,value1 #djj ,total3-- ,bushels1 #hjj ,value1 #a1ejj ,mashpee4 ,the quahaug industry at ,mashpee is at a low ebb4 ,natural facilities are favorable1 but a lack of initiative on the part of the inhabitants causes a small production4 ,the best grounds are found in ,popponessett ,bay and ,river1 where a territory of #bjj acres includes several oyster grants which are worked but little4 ,on the east side of ,waquoit ,bay scattering quahaugs are found in ,mashpee waters4 ,there are #c regular and #d intermittent quahaugers1 with an invested capital of #gj1 who are obliged by the town laws to have a permit costing #a4 ,the quahaug industry of the town has remained about the same for the last twenty-five years1 and now a good quahauger can scarcely average #a to #b bushels per day4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,area of quahaug territory 7acres71 #djj ,number of men1 #g ,number of boats1 -- ,value of boats1 -- ,number of skiffs1 #e ,value of skiffs1 #ej ,value of implements1 #bj ,production4 ,little necks3-- ,bushels1 #be ,value1 #fj ,quahaugs3-- ,bushels1 #bbe ,value1 #bbe ,total3-- ,bushels1 #bej ,value1 #bhe ,mattapoisett4 ,the town of ,mattapoisett1 situated to the west of ,marion1 receives but little income from her shellfisheries1 as the waters are for the most part too open and exposed for shellfish culture4 ,the quahaug fishery is the most important shellfish industry of the town1 but even this1 when compared with the quahaug fishery of other towns1 is rather unimportant1 as most of the suitable territory is nonproductive4 ,quahaugs are very unevenly distributed over #hjj acres4 ,the best quahaugs are found in ,aucoot ,cove and at ,brants4 ,in the main harbor quahaugs are found1 though scattering1 as indicated on the map4 ,no licenses or permits are required of the #bh men and boys who add to their income from time to time by quahauging4 ,most of these depend on other sources of employment for their main support4 ,the industry as a whole is gradually declining1 as overfishing has made it impossible for the natural supply to perpetuate itself4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,area of quahaug territory 7acres71 #gej ,number of men1 #bh ,number of boats1 -- ,value of boats1 -- ,number of skiffs1 #bh ,value of skiffs1 #dbe ,value of implements1 #ge ,production4 ,little necks3-- ,bushels1 #djj ,value1 #a1ajj ,quahaugs3-- ,bushels1 #djj ,value1 #djj ,total3-- ,bushels1 #hjj ,value1 #a1ejj ,nantucket4 ,the quahaug industry of ,nantucket ranks second to the main shellfish industry1 the scallop fishery1 and brings annually about #h1jjj to the island4 ,nantucket is especially adapted for quahaugs1 as ,nantucket harbor1 ,maddequet harbor and the ,island of ,tuckernuck possess extensive territory4 ,in spite of these natural advantages1 which are as fine as any in the ,state1 ,nantucket produces only #f1jjj bushels annually1 whereas her resources1 under proper cultural methods1 warrant an annual production exceeding even that of ,wellfleet1 which is at present shipping #cc1jjj bushels4 ,the quahauging territory of ,nantucket is divided into three sections3 7#a7 ,nantucket harbor2 7#b7 ,maddequet harbor2 and 7#c7 ,tuckernuck4 ,in ,nantucket harbor quahaugs are found over an area of #b1bij acres1 both scattering and in thick patches4 ,the principal areas are situated as follows3-- 7#a7 ,near the town between ,monomoy ,heights and the wharves is a territory of #bdj acres4 ,in the deep water directly out from the wharves there has been good quahauging although the bed was discovered only a few years ago4 7#b7 ,on the east side of the harbor1 between ,abram's ,point and ,pocomo ,head1 including ,polpis harbor1 are extensive grounds1 comprising about #ijj acres1 of scattering quahaugs4 7#c7 ,on the opposite side of the harbor lies a strip of quahaug territory of #bej acres1 which extends between ,third ,point and ,bass ,point4 7#d7 ,at the head of the harbor on both sides quahaugs are found over an area of #ijj acres4 ,maddequet harbor on the western end of the island has approximately #cjj acres suitable for quahaugs1 running from ,broad ,creek to ,eel ,point4 ,on the eastern end of ,tuckernuck ,island is a bed of quahaugs covering about #bjj acres2 while on the west side1 between ,muskeget and ,tuckernuck1 is a large area of #b1ejj acres1 which is more or less productive4 ,the ,tuckernuck fishery is largely little necks1 and it is from here that the shipment of small seed quahaugs has been made4 ,in the spring and fall men who have been boatmen during the summer work at quahauging4 ,while #dh men work irregularly1 about #ah men are engaged in the fishery during the entire summer1 though probably never more than #cj are raking at any one time4 ,the production in #aijf1 from ,april ,i to ,november ,i1 was #b1aei barrels1 or #f1dgg bushels2 value1 #g1eeg4 ,,production1 #aijg4h ,,quahaugs ------------------------------------- ,barrels ,average ,bushels ,value ,,months price per ,barrel ---------------------------------------- ----------- ,april #ach #c4ej #dad #dhc ,may #beg #d4jj #gga #a1jbh ,june #dfj #d4jj #a1chj #a1hdj ,july #cee #c4jj #a1jfe #a1jfj ,august #cab #c4ej #icf #a1jib ,september #cjb #c4db #ijf #a1jcb ,october #abc #d4jj #cfi #dib ,november #ej #c4jj #aej #aej ------------------------------------- ,total #a1iig #c4fj #e1iia #g1agg ,little necks #aja #cjc #a1caj ------------------------------------- ,grand total #b1jih #f1bid #h1dhg ,,little ,,necks ------------------------------------- ,barrels ,average ,bushels ,value ,,months price per ,barrel ---------------------------------------- ----------- ,april -- -- -- -- ,may #d #ad4jj #ab #ef ,june #ac #ad4jj #ci #ahb ,july #cc #ad4jj #ij #dfb ,august #bj #ae4jj #fj #cjj ,september #bb #aj4jj #ff #bbj ,october #i #aj4jj #bg #ij ,november -- -- -- -- ------------------------------------- ,total #aja #ab4ig #cjc #a1caj ,the month of ,june shows the largest production1 as the summer people do not arrive in any numbers until ,july4 ,the men who do the summer boating are engaged in the quahaug fishery during this month1 naturally increasing the production4 ,the principal method is raking from a boat or dory with a long-handled basket rake1 very similar in form to the rake used on ,cape ,cod4 ,the second method1 applicable only in shallow water1 employs the use of a claw rake with a much shorter handle4 ,the quahauger uses this rake in the shallow water1 where he can wade at low tide4 ,the largest claw rakes are often wider than the basket rakes1 and are much cheaper4 ,at ,nantucket about #e per cent4 of the entire catch is little necks1 which are found mostly at ,tuckernuck4 ,the quahauger usually makes three culls of his catch3 7#a7 little necks2 7#b7 medium2 7#c7 large4 ,a few blunts are obtained4 ,the quahaugs are shipped chiefly to ,new ,york and ,boston markets1 either directly by the quahaugers or through ,nantucket firms4 ,the boats used in the industry1 numbering #bd sail1 #f power and #aj single dories1 and approximating #f1aej in value1 are in a way transitory capital1 and are used in the winter for scalloping and other fishing4 ,nevertheless1 it is necessary to class them as capital used in the quahaug fishery4 ,no special town laws are made for the regulation of the ,nantucket quahaug fishery1 although at any time by vote of the town suitable regulations and by-laws can be made4 ,quahaugs have probably always been abundant at ,nantucket1 as over fifty years ago they were reported as plentiful4 ,it is only of late years that the fishery has assumed any great importance1 when the increasing prices1 especially for the little necks1 made it profitable for men to enter the business4 ,as it is1 many men now quahaug only when they have nothing else to do4 ,from the statistics of the ,united ,states ,fish ,commission for #ahgi we find that the annual catch for that year amounted to #aej bushels1 valued at #ge4 ,as a striking contrast to this1 the present production of #f1bid bushels1 valued at #h1dhg1 shows the great development of the fishery1 which has been caused by more men entering the business1 the opening up of new beds1 such as the little neck beds of ,tuckernuck1 and the improved methods of raking in the deep water4 ,it is rather difficult to state definitely1 from lack of past statistical figures1 whether ,nantucket industry is declining or improving4 ,between #ahgi and #aijf no records are obtainable4 ,the production figures for #aijf show #f1dgg bushels1 as compared with #f1add bushels in #aijg4 ,whether there was merely a sudden temporary increase in the supply by the opening up of new beds in #aijf1 or whether there is a steady decline1 can only be determined by the production of future years4 ,many indications point to the latter1 in spite of the assurance of the quahaugers that #aijg was a good season1 because of high market prices4 ,the last few years have witnessed a change in the quahaug fishery1--a realization that there is more money in planting and raising quahaugs than in oyster culture4 ,the out-of-,state oystermen1 especially in ,new ,york1 have been the first to realize this1 and have been buying1 at the rate of #d to #e per bushel1 all the small quahaugs they can procure1 merely replanting1 to reap the following year a yield of #c to #f bushels for every bushel planted4 ,under the stimulus of the high prices offered1 many bushels of small quahaugs have been shipped from the town1 which thus lost what the planters gained4 ,there is much feeling against such a practice1 but so far nothing has been done by the town to stop this shipping of seed quahaugs4 ,as the town has full control of its shellfisheries1 it has only to pass a simple law allowing no quahaugs under #b inches to be taken1 and see that it is properly enforced4 ,such a matter should be attended to at once1 as not only is the actual value of the catch diminished1 but the industry is seriously impaired by the capture of these small quahaugs before they can spawn4 ,the only other way to remedy this difficulty is to grant licenses allowing the replanting of these small quahaugs on the barren parts of the harbor until they have obtained a proper size4 ,the results obtained from the experiments of the commission in ,polpis harbor show that quahaugs will grow rapidly when thus replanted in suitable places1 and that a gain of to of an inch1 or #c to #f bushels for every bushel bedded1 can be obtained during the six summer months 7,may to ,november74 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,area of quahaug territory 7acres71 #e1bij ,number of men1 #dh ,number of boats1 #cj ,value of boats1 #e1hjj ,number of dories1 #aj ,value of dories1 #cej ,value of gear1 #fjj ,production4 ,little necks3-- ,bushels1 #cjc ,value1 #a1caj ,quahaugs3-- ,bushels1 #e1iia ,value1 #g1agg ,total3-- ,bushels1 #f1bid ,value1 #h1dhg ,new ,bedford4 ,the quahaug industry of ,new ,bedford was practically annihilated by the law of #aije1 which closed the ,acushnet ,river and ,clark's ,cove to both clammer and quahauger4 ,good beds of quahaugs1 particularly little necks1 exist in both these waters1 but can be taken only for bait4 ,as several sewers run into the ,acushnet ,river1 and the public health was endangered by the consumption as food of the quahaugs taken from the river and the waters near its mouth1 nearly #djj acres of quahaug territory were closed by the ,state ,board of ,health4 ,what little available territory there is outside the prescribed area1 off ,clark's ,point1 is free to all4 ,a license is required to dig quahaugs for bait in this territory1 and such is issued free of charge4 ,the maximum amount permitted to be dug is #b bushels per week of clams or quahaugs1 or of both4 ,some #cbj permits have been issued since the law was passed1 in #aije4 ,eleven of these have been since revoked for unlawful conduct on the part of the possessors4 ,for the first offence the license is merely revoked1 for the second a fine of #aj1 and for the third #ajj is imposed4 ,orleans4 ,although ,orleans is well represented by all four main types of shellfish1 the quahaug fishery is the leading industry of the town4 ,a favorable coast line1 fronting on the west the waters of ,cape ,cod ,bay and bounded on the east by ,pleasant ,bay1 provides excellent facilities for the quahaug fishery4 ,the main quahauging territory is in ,cape ,cod ,bay4 ,while the west coast of ,orleans is only about a mile long1 the privileges which allow the citizens of ,orleans free fishing in ,eastham waters1 according to the act of incorporation in #agib1 whereby the benefits of the shellfishery were to be mutually shared1 opens up an extensive tract of quahaug territory1 from #b to #c miles in width1 extending north as far as ,billingsgate ,island and the ,wellfleet line4 ,the actual ,orleans quahaug territory consists only of #a1jjj acres1 which furnish but poor quahauging1 while the water is several fathoms deep4 ,on the east side an entirely different condition prevails4 ,here in the waters of ,pleasant ,bay is a bed of quahaugs which1 though worked for a long time1 is still in excellent condition4 ,the proportion of little necks is larger than on the west side1 running about one-half the entire catch2 neither is the water as deep here1 rarely having a greater depth than #ab feet1 and by no means as rough as the more exposed waters of ,cape ,cod ,bay4 ,the quahauging grounds here comprise #ejj acres4 ,although there are #a1ejj acres of quahaug territory in the town of ,orleans1 only a small part of this is commercially productive1 and the larger part of the fishery is carried on in ,eastham waters4 ,the possession of two entirely different quahaug grounds1 one on the east1 the other on the west coast1 makes practically two different industries1 each of which will have to be considered separately4 7#a7 ,cape ,cod ,bay ,industry4--,in ,cape ,cod ,bay #ej men rake quahaugs whenever the weather will permit4 ,owing to the great depth of water1 the work is difficult1 requiring rakes with handles often #fj feet long4 ,two men generally go in one boat1 the usual type being an elongated dory1 some #cj to #cb feet over all1 carrying from #d to #ab horse-power gasolene engines4 ,these boats are built to stand rough weather1 and cost from #gjj to #a1jjj apiece4 ,thirty boats are employed in this business in the bay4 ,the quahauger averages perhaps #ajj working days in a year1 as in a strong wind and choppy sea it is impossible to rake in the deep water4 ,a good fisherman expects to rake from #b to #c barrels of quahaugs a day4 ,five to ten years ago as many as #ae barrels were dug in a day by one man1 but this is impossible now4 ,even as it is1 the profits are large4 ,the best quahauger in ,orleans cleared in #aijf over #a1fjj1 while several others made nearly #a1djj4 ,as at ,wellfleet1 the ,orleans quahaugers receive licenses to replant their quahaugs along the shore1 and it is customary to thus keep them until the ,new ,york or ,boston markets offer suitable prices4 ,nearly two-thirds of these deep-water quahaugs are blunts1 and perhaps one-tenth of the catch is little necks4 7#b7 ,pleasant ,bay ,industry4--,about #be men dig here from ordinary dories1 using short rakes and tongs4 ,the average wages are #b to #c per day1 which is considerably less than the high wages of the ,cape ,cod ,bay fishery2 but many more days can be utilized during the year1 while the work is much easier and the necessary outlay of capital is slight4 ,here the quahaugs run about one-half little necks1 and the proportion of blunts is small4 ,little evidence of decline can be seen in ,pleasant ,bay1 where the bed of quahaugs1 although raked for a long time1 still shows few signs of decrease4 ,on the ,cape ,cod ,bay side the reverse is true1 and the supply is gradually diminishing4 ,the same town laws for regulation of the quahaug fishery apply for ,wellfleet1 ,eastham and ,orleans4 7,see ,wellfleet47 ,the main historical features of the quahaug industry at ,orleans have been similar to ,wellfleet1 the industry lying practically dormant until #ahid1 when it rapidly reached its present production4 ,unfortunately1 but little data can be obtained for comparison of the industry of #ahgi with #aijg4 ,ernest ,ingersoll reports1 in #ahgi3-- ,at ,orleans1 some few men who go mackereling in summer stay at home and dig clams in winter1 getting perhaps #ej barrels of quahaugs among others1 which are peddled in the town4 ,comparing the two years by table1 we find3-- #ahgi4 #aijg4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ,annual production1 #aej bushels1 #cc1jjj bushels4 ,value of production1 #hb4ej1 #da1cej4 ,number of men1 ,a few1 #ge4 ,location1 quahaug beds1,pleasant ,bay1 ,cape ,cod ,bay and ,pleasant ,bay4 ,market1 ,home consumption1,new ,york and ,boston4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,cape ,cod ,bay4 ,pleasant ,bay4 ,total4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ,area 7acres71 #a1jjj #ejj #a1ejj ,number of men1 #ej #be #ge ,number of boats1 #cj - #cj ,value of boats1 #bc1jjj - #bc1jjj ,number of dories1 - #be #be ,value of dories1 - #ejj #ejj ,value of implements1 #a1bej #bej #a1ejj ,production4 ,little necks3-- ,bushels1 #b1gjj #c1jjj #e1gjj ,value1 #f1gej #g1jjj #ac1gej ,quahaugs3-- ,bushels1 #bd1cjj #c1jjj #bg1cjj ,value1 #bd1cjj #c1cjj #bg1fjj ,total3-- ,bushels1 #bg1jjj #f1jjj #cc1jjj ,value1 #ca1jej #aj1cjj #da1cej ,provincetown4 ,no commercial quahaug fishery is carried on at ,provincetown4 ,a few quahaugs1 chiefly little necks1 are found in the tide pools among the thatch on the northwestern side of the harbor4 ,swansea4 ,a quahaug fishery existed in ,swansea until three years ago4 ,since that time there has been no commercial fishery1 though a few quahaugs are still dug for home consumption4 ,truro4 ,occasionally a few scattering quahaugs are found on the bars1 which extend out one-quarter of a mile from shore on the bay side4 ,no quahaug fishery is carried on4 ,wareham4 ,the town of ,wareham1 situated on the northeast side of ,buzzards ,bay and separated from the adjoining town of ,bourne by ,cohasset ,narrows1 has a coast line indented with numerous small inlets1 bays and rivers1 which afford excellent opportunities for the growth of the quahaug4 ,the villages of ,onset1 ,wareham and part of ,buzzards ,bay enjoy the privileges of this fishery4 ,quahaugs are found over practically the entire territory1 and comprise a total area of about #a1cjj acres4 ,although much of this area is barren1 the commercial fishery is maintained by small isolated beds which occur here and there4 ,the two principal centers of the industry are in the ,wareham ,river and in ,onset ,bay4 ,at ,onset the whole bay1 except the oyster grants1 as included between the southeast end of ,mashnee ,island and ,peters ,neck1 is used for quahauging4 ,a few quahaugs are found in ,broad ,cove1 and fair digging is obtained in ,buttermilk ,bay and ,cohasset ,narrows4 ,the ,wareham ,river1 outside the oyster grants1 and a narrow shore strip from ,weweantit ,river to ,tempe's ,knob1 comprise the rest of the territory4 ,in ,onset ,channel a fine bed exists in deep water1 #b to #d fathoms1 but the ground is so hard that not much digging is done4 ,it will be seen from the map that practically #ge per cent4 of the quahaug territory is taken up by oyster grants1 especially in the ,wareham ,river and ,onset ,bay4 ,town sentiment is in a chaotic state over the oyster and quahaug deadlock1 and much friction naturally exists between the opposing factions1 the quahaugers and oystermen4 ,the struggle between these two parties was at its height several years ago1 and the enmity still continues1 though not so openly1 owing to the decline of the quahaug industry4 ,rightly managed1 affairs ought to be so arranged that prosperity might be brought to both factions2 but town customs and town laws1 poorly enforced at the best1 are hardly able to cope with this evil1 which has resulted in much expense legally and financially to both parties1 and both industries are badly crippled in consequence1--the oyster industry by lack of protection and the quahaug industry by loss of grounds4 ,it is hoped that in the future suitable arrangements can be made for both industries1 and that the quahaug industry1 which is at present declining1 can be put on an equal footing with the oyster industry1 by granting licenses to plant and grow quahaugs4 ,most of the digging is done with garden rakes1 potato diggers or by hand4 ,some tongs are used1 but few if any long-handled basket rakes1 since the digging is chiefly confined to the shallow water1 not more than #aj feet deep1 except in ,onset ,channel1 where it ranges from #ab to #bd feet4 ,no information or statistical records of the quahaug fishery of ,wareham can be obtained1 and it is therefore impossible to draw any comparison between the present industry and the industry of twenty-five years ago4 ,the decline of the quahaug fishery in ,wareham is an established fact4 ,the production of #f1jjj bushels for #aijf is far less than the production of five years ago4 ,since #aija the output has steadily declined1 and where the quahauger once was able to rake #e bushels at a tide1 to-day he can rake scarcely #a bushel in the same time4 ,it is only a question of a few years when the natural supply will be completely exterminated4 ,the only salvation of the industry in ,wareham is to increase the natural supply by quahaug farming4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,area of quahaug territory 7acres71 #a1cjj ,number of men1 #ej ,number of boats1 - ,value of boats1 - ,number of dories1 #ej ,value of dories1 #gej ,value of implements1 #bej ,production4 ,little necks3-- ,bushels1 #c1jjj ,value1 #g1ejj ,quahaugs3-- ,bushels1 #c1jjj ,value1 #c1jjj ,total3-- ,bushels1 #f1jjj ,value1 #aj1ejj ,wellfleet4 ,the town of ,wellfleet possesses the finest quahaug industry in ,massachusetts4 ,more men are engaged in the business and the annual production is larger than that of any other town of the ,state4 ,in colonial days the towns of ,orleans1 ,eastham and ,wellfleet were incorporated as one town1--the town of ,eastham4 ,in #agfc an act was passed incorporating the ,north ,precinct of ,eastham into a district by the name of ,wellfleet1 ,reserving to the inhabitants of said town the privileges by them heretofore enjoyed of all ways to and of erecting houses on the beaches and islands for the convenience of the fishery of all kinds1 and of anchorage and of landing all goods or wares at any of their common landing places in any of the harbors of said ,eastham in like manner as they might have done if this act had never been made and passed4 ,by this act were created the two independent towns of ,eastham and ,wellfleet1 which held in common all fisheries1 thus giving the mutual right of the shellfisheries to both towns4 ,in #agig another act of incorporation1 separating ,orleans from ,eastham1 was enacted1 which provided that the benefits of the shellfisheries of these two towns were to be mutually enjoyed4 ,the result of these two acts was to give ,eastham and ,wellfleet and at the same time ,eastham and ,orleans mutual rights of the shellfishery1 but forbidding mutual shellfisheries between ,wellfleet and ,orleans4 ,while this may seem to give theoretically the advantage to ,eastham1 actually the town gains nothing in the quahaug fishery1 as ,orleans has practically no productive grounds on the bay side1 and the ,orleans quahaugers fish in the ,eastham waters4 ,the quahaug territory of ,wellfleet comprises about #b1ejj acres1 and approximately takes up all the harbor1 wherever there are no oyster grants1 running from the ,deep ,hole between ,great ,island and ,indian ,neck southward to the ,eastham line4 ,outside of these limits a few quahaugs are found on the flats of ,duck ,creek and along the shore flats of the town4 ,they are more abundant on the north side of ,egg ,island1 where they are taken in shallow water with ordinary hand rakes4 ,the best quahauging is found in the channel extending from an imaginary line between ,lieutenant's ,island and ,great ,beach ,hill south to ,billingsgate4 ,the greatest depth at low tide is #d fathoms and the general average is about #c fathoms4 ,in this channel are found most of the little necks1 small blunts and small sharps4 ,outside of the oyster grants1 quahaugs are found south of ,great ,island1 north of ,billingsgate ,island on the west side of the harbor1 on ,lieutenant's ,island bar and at the mouth of ,blackfish ,creek4 ,a few quahaugs1 both sharps and blunts1 are raked with #be-;foot rakes in the shallow water #f to #h feet near the beach1 usually on a sandy bottom4 ,the principal market for ,wellfleet quahaugs is ,new ,york1 though many are sent to ,boston and other parts of the country1 even to the middle west4 ,quahaugs have been shipped from ,wellfleet to ,milwaukee and arrived in good condition after ten days4 ,the annual production is #cc1jjj bushels1 one-sixth of these1 #e1ejj bushels1 being little necks4 ,there were #adj men engaged in the fishery in #aijf1 and #ade permits were granted in #aijg4 ,the average yield for a day's raking is #d bushels1 although an exceptional quahauger can sometimes rake #g bushels4 ,practically all the raking is done in deep water1 with rakes the handles of which are often #dg feet long4 ,each quahauger has a set of handles of various lengths for different depths of water4 ,both power boats and cats are used here in quahauging1 the power boats possessing considerable advantage over the sail boat4 ,thirty-eight power boats and #fb sail boats1 both single and double manned1 are used at ,wellfleet4 ,at present there is every indication of a declining fishery4 ,until the last three years the industry has been steadily on the increase since #ahid4 ,the maximum production was reached a few years ago1 and the industry is slowly on the decline1 unless the opening up of new beds gives it a fresh start4 ,unfortunately1 all the quahaugers do not realize the possibility of this seemingly inexhaustible supply giving out1 and believe it will continue forever2 but any one can see that it is impossible for the natural supply to continue when such inroads are yearly made1 and that it is only a question of time when the best business asset of the town will become extinct4 ,for years there has been an antagonistic feeling between the quahaugers and the oystermen1 due to the conflicting interests of these industries4 ,although the quahaug territory has been narrowed down by the giving of oyster grants in the harbor1 the quahaug fishery has not suffered severely1 as the poorer quahaug grounds were alone granted1 with the idea that more money could be made by using these for oyster culture4 ,although these grants were laid out in good faith1 injustice in many instances has been done the quahaug industry2 but on the whole the change has been for the benefit of the town4 ,in the broad waters of ,wellfleet harbor there is room for both industries1 and there is no reason why both should not prosper if wisely regulated1 without the intervention of town politics4 ,at present this antagonism has hurt the interests of both1 and it is manifestly unfair that either should drive the other out while there is room for both to prosper4 ,wellfleet is the only town that can boast of a quahaug club4 ,this club was formed in #aijd1 and had an enrollment of practically all the quahaugers4 ,permits are required of every man engaged in the quahaug fishery4 ,these cost #a apiece1 and are granted on application to any one who has been a resident of the town for six months4 ,these permits are to be obtained each year1 on or before ,may #a1 after which date an additional charge of #ej cents is made for collecting4 ,no person without a regular permit is allowed to catch quahaugs for market4 ,permits were first issued in #aijd4 ,section #b of chapter #bfi of the ,acts of #aijd is as follows3-- ,,section #b4 ,no inhabitant of said towns shall sell or offer for sale little neck clams or quahaugs which measure less than one and one-half inches across the widest part1 and no person shall in any of said towns sell or offer for sale little neck clams or quahaugs which measure less than one and one-half inches across the widest part4 ,this excellent law was passed for the towns of ,eastham1 ,orleans and ,wellfleet1 but has never been enforced4 ,although enacted and technically lived up to1 no measures are made for its enforcement1 which would necessitate a shellfish inspector4 ,this furnishes an example of the nonenforcement of one of the few good town laws4 ,section #d of chapter #bfi of the ,acts of #aijd is as follows3-- ,,section #d4 ,the selectmen of the said towns may1 in their respective towns1 grant licenses or permits for such periods1 not exceeding two years1 and under such conditions as they may deem proper1 not however covering more than seventy-five feet square in area1 to any inhabitants of the town to bed quahaugs in any waters1 flats and creeks within the town at any place where there is no natural quahaug bed1 not impairing the private rights of any person or materially obstructing any navigable waters4 ,it shall be unlawful for any person1 except the licensee and his agents1 to take any quahaugs in or remove them from the territory covered by any such license4 ,the above should receive well-deserved praise1 as it is one of the most useful town laws ever enacted in ,massachusetts4 ,each quahauger is thus enabled to stake off a little plot #ge feet square on the flats1 whereon he can bed his catch whenever the market price is too low for shipment4 ,this not only makes steadier work for the quahaugers1 since a dull market does not stop digging1 as before1 but also enables him to obtain a better price for his quahaugs1 and he is not forced to lose through the wastes of competition4 ,quahaugs have always been abundant at ,wellfleet4 ,forty years ago about #ae men were engaged in the business1 and shipped their catch to ,boston by packet boats1 quahaugs then wholesaling at #ej cents per bushel4 ,in #ahgi 7report of the ,united ,states ,fish ,commission7 ,ernest ,ingersoll gives the following account of the quahaug industry at ,wellfleet1 which furnishes such an excellent comparison with the present industry that it is given here3-- ,the early productiveness of ,cape ,cod is shown by the presence of numerous shellfish heaps1 particularly in ,wellfleet and ,barnstable harbors1 filled up by the ,indians1 and consisting almost wholly of the shells of this mollusk4 ,though in greatly depleted numbers1 the quahaug still survives along the inside of the ,cape1 and at ,wellfleet has been raked from early times by the settlers4 ,mr4 ,f4 ,w4 ,true contributes some notes on this place1 from which ,i learn that the quahaug fishery as a business there dates from the beginning of the nineteenth century4 ,it grew in extent until #ahfc1 and from that time until #ahfh the trade was at its height1 since when it has diminished year by year1 owing to lack of good market rather than failure of the supply4 ,between #ahfc and #ahfi the average catch each year was not less than #b1ejj bushels4 ,of this amount a comparatively small part was consumed at ,wellfleet1 and the rest were shipped to ,boston1 ,provincetown1 ,salem1 ,newport1 ,manchester and a few other ,new ,england ports4 ,from #ahgj to #ahgf the quantity of quahaugs taken per year decreased from #b1ejj bushels to #a1hjj bushels1 and this latter amount has remained constant to the present year4 ,of the total catch in #ahgh1 fully one-half1 or #ijj bushels1 was consumed in ,wellfleet1 and the remaining #ijj bushels were shipped to ,boston and other neighboring towns4 ,for three years1 beginning with #ahgf1 #ge bushels of quahaugs have been annually shipped to ,new ,york ,city4 ,quahaugs are found in all parts of ,wellfleet ,bay except in a small spot near the wharves1 called the ,deep ,hole1 and a similar one on the west side of the bay4 ,both of these places are covered with a thick1 soft mud4 ,it is not usual1 however1 to fish in parts of the bay where the average depth at low water exceeds #h feet4 ,most of the raking is done on the western side4 ,in ordinary years1 quahaug raking is begun the last of ,march and continues until the first of ,october4 ,as a general thing1 no raking is done through the winter months1 although in some years a small amount has been done through holes cut in the ice4 ,the fishermen rake about four tides per week1 beginning at half-ebb and raking to half-flood4 ,the boats used are either cat boats or yawls rigged with two sails4 ,each boat carries #a man4 ,the rake employed at ,wellfleet is described by ,mr4 ,true as similar in form to an oyster rake1 but made of steel instead of iron4 ,in former days this instrument was of iron1 the tips of the teeth only being of steel4 ,an average rake has seventeen teeth1 and weighs about #ab pounds4 ,the handle or tail is of wood1 and is about #bc feet long4 ,the baskets in which the quahaugs are collected and measured are of ordinary manufacture1 and hold about a bushel each2 and the whole outfit of a quahaug fisherman does not cost over #aej1 and the total amount of capital invested in apparatus at the present time in ,wellfleet does not exceed #hjj4 ,this amount is about evenly divided between #e men1 none of whom are engaged in this fishery more than a part of their time4 ,quahaugs are sent to market always in the shell1 and packed in second-hand flour or sugar barrels4 ,the wholesale price of quahaugs for many years averaged #fj cents per bushel1 but in #ahgi it fell to #ee cents4 ,one dollar and seventy-five cents is the average wholesale price per barrel4 ,quahaugs retail in ,wellfleet at #hj cents per bushel4 ,the usual method of transportation is by packet1 at a cost of #be cents per barrel4#i ,,comparison ,,of #ahgi ,,with #aijg4 #ahgi4 #aijg4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------- ,annual production1 #a1hjj1 #cc1jjj4 ,annual value1 #iij1 #da1bej4 ,average price per bushel1#ee cents1 #a4be4 ,number of men1 #e1 #ade4 ,capital1 #hjj1 #be1iej4 ,market1 ,boston and ,new ,york1 ,new ,york1 ,boston1 and other cities4 ,season1 ,april #a to ,october #a1 ,april #a to ,october #a4 ,boats1 #e sail boats1 #ajj boats1 one-third power1 two-thirds sail4 ,deepest water1 #h feet1 #dj feet4 ,longest rake1 #bc feet1 #dg feet4 ,best quahaug beds1 ,west side of harbor1 ,channel4 ,from the account of ,mr4 ,ingersoll the above table has been formulated1 showing the vast increase in the quahaug business of ,wellfleet since #ahgi1 as well as certain changes in the industry4 ,this by no means proves that the quahaug industry is on the increase2 it merely shows that it has taken a tremendous development since #ahgi1 and the fact that the quahaug industry of ,wellfleet has passed its maximum production a few years ago and is now on the decline should not be overlooked in consulting this table1 which otherwise would give an erroneous impression4 ,the changing of the quahaug grounds from shallow to deeper water alone is a sign of the decline of the industry4 ,the quahaug industry has developed to its present extent only since #ahid1 and is comparatively recent4 ,by the opening of the great beds of little necks and quahaugs in the channel and deep water the industry suddenly became important4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,area of quahaug territory 7acres71 #b1ejj ,number of men1 #ade ,number of power boats1 #ch ,value of power boats1 #ad1jjj ,number of sail boats1 #fb ,value of sail boats1 #aj1cjj ,value of implements1 #c1bjj ,production4 ,little necks3-- ,bushels1 #e1ejj ,value1 #ac1hej ,quahaugs3-- ,bushels1 #bg1ejj ,value1 #bg1ejj ,total3-- ,bushels1 #cc1jjj ,value1 #da1cej ,yarmouth4 ,the quahaug grounds1 which lie mostly in ,bass ,river1 are free to the inhabitants of ,dennis and ,yarmouth1 as these two towns have common fishery rights4 ,quahaugs are found in four localities3 7#a7 ,bass ,river2 7#b7 ,mill ,creek2 7#c7 ,barnstable ,bar on the north shore2 and 7#d7 ,lewis ,bay4 ,the total area is #a1jjj acres1 which includes all grounds where there are any quahaugs1 as there are now no thick beds4 ,the average depth of water over the quahaug grounds is #d feet4 ,the town law governing the quahaug fishery reads thus3-- ,all persons other than the inhabitants of the towns of ,dennis and ,yarmouth are prohibited from taking clams and quahaugs from the shores and waters of the town of ,yarmouth4 ,inhabitants of the ,commonwealth not residents of ,dennis and ,yarmouth may obtain permits of the selectmen to take sufficient quantity of said shellfish for their family use4 ,the history of the quahaug industry of ,yarmouth is one of decline4 ,the industry has existed for fifteen years1 starting in #ahib4 ,mr4 ,edgar ,n4 ,baker1 who has been interested in the business ever since it started1 says3-- ,in the last ten years it is safe to say that the catch has fallen off fully #ge per cent41 and nothing but the constant advance in prices and lack of profitable employment has prompted men to give their attention to this method of obtaining their bread and butter4 ,the most conservative estimate would not put it below #ej per cent4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,area of quahaug territory 7acres71 #a1jjj ,number of men 7transient71 #bj ,number of boats1 -- ,value of boats1 -- ,number of skiffs1 #aj ,value of skiffs1 #ajj ,value of implements1 #adj ,production4 ,little necks3-- ,bushels1 #a1bjj ,value1 #c1jjj ,quahaugs3-- ,bushels1 #a1jjj ,value1 #a1jjj ,total3-- ,bushels1 #b1bjj ,value1 #d1jjj ,,footnotes3 #g ,the ,fisheries of ,massachusetts1 ,united ,states ,fish ,commission ,report1 ,section ,,ii41 p4 #bec4 #h ,returns of ,special ,agent ,wm4 ,c4 ,dunham4 #i ,the ,oyster1 ,scallop1 ,clam1 ,mussel and ,abalone ,industries1 by ,ernest ,ingersoll4 ,united ,states ,fish ,commission ,report1 ,section ,v41 ,vol4 #b1 p4 #fjc4 ,,scallop 7,pecten irradians74 ,the common shallow-water scallop is unknown commercially on the north shore1 occurring only south of ,boston4 ,it is usually found in abundance along the southern shore of ,cape ,cod1 in ,buzzards ,bay1 and about the islands of ,nantucket and ,martha's ,vineyard4 ,for the past three years investigations in regard to its growth1 habits and culture have been carried on by the ,commissioners on ,fisheries and ,game4 ,these investigations are now practically completed4 ,in another report the whole life history of this bivalve will be given1 showing the application of this scientific study to the existing conditions of the industry4 ,the scallop fishery in ,massachusetts is only a partial industry1 as it does not concern the whole coast line1 but merely the ,vineyard ,sound and ,buzzards ,bay shore4 ,compared with other ,states1 the production of ,massachusetts is favorable1 ,new ,york alone exceeding it in output4 ,the southern coast of ,massachusetts is especially adapted for this shellfish4 ,its bays1 sheltered harbors and inlets afford excellent ground for the scallop1 which requires protection against the heavy seas4 ,thousands of acres of eel-grass flats from #a to #fj feet under water were formerly covered by beds of scallops1 and in parts are still thickly set4 ,while the extent of the scalloping area is large1 only portions are ever productive at any one time4 ,a set may be in one part this year1 and the next year's spawn may catch in a different place4 ,thus1 while all the ground is suitable for scallops1 only a small part is in productive operation each year4 ,while the possibilities of future development are not as alluring as in the other shellfisheries1 yet much can be done to assist nature and help preserve the supply4 ,wise laws and well-directed efforts can save many bushels of the young scallops which yearly die on the exposed flats where they have set in unfavorable places4 ,scope of the ,report4--,the object of this report is to present certain information concerning the scallop industry which will be of use to the scallop fishermen1 and of interest to the general public and the consumers4 ,while the scallop is well known as an article of food1 the majority of people know little about the animal4 ,it will therefore be necessary in the following report to give brief descriptions of the various methods used in the capture of this bivalve1 in order to make clear the more technical portions4 ,the first part of the report considers the general results of the survey1 the history of the industry1 the scallop laws1 the methods of scalloping and the statistics of the industry4 ,the second part gives a more detailed description1 the following points being considered under each town3 7#a7 survey2 7#b7 statistics of industry2 7#c7 town laws2 7#d7 history4 ,methods of ,work4--,several difficulties stand in the way of procuring exact information concerning the scallop industry1 especially in regard to historical data which should show the improvement or decline of the fishery4 ,the town records are incomplete1 lost1 or furnish but slight information4 ,little has been written about this industry1 and we were thus forced to rely upon the scallopers for information concerning the history and former production of each town4 ,fortunately1 the scallop industry is of recent origin 7thirty years71 and the information is very nearly correct4 ,by the use of town records1 market reports1 records of express shipments1 personal surveys and estimates by the various scallopers1 and by all other methods at our command1 the facts of the last few years have been obtained in an approximately correct form4 ,the area of the scallop territory was obtained by personal inspection and calculated by plottings on the maps4 ,in designating the area suitable for scallops in any town by a certain number of acres or by plottings on the map1 it does not mean that scallops are found each year over all this territory4 ,allowances must be made for the uncertainty of the scallop supply4 ,some years there will be no scallops2 in other years1 plenty4 ,even when scallops are plentiful1 they rarely cover the whole territory1 but are found only in certain parts in different years4 ,the designation of an area as scallop territory means that scallops have been found in the past over this territory1 and that the natural conditions of the territory appear favorable for scallops4 ,the ,decline4 ,the most important questions which first come to mind when considering the scallop industry of to-day are these three3 7#a7 ,has there been any decline in the industry8 ,if so1 how extensive8 7#b7 ,what are the causes of the decline8 7#c7 ,how can the fishery be improved8 ,i4 ,extent of the ,decline4--,there is no question but that the industry as a whole has declined4 ,this decline has made itself manifest1 especially in certain localities1 e4g41 ,buzzards ,bay1 where until #aijg the entire fishery1 except at ,new ,bedford and ,fairhaven1 had been totally extinct for the past seven years4 ,along the south side of ,cape ,cod1 at ,edgartown and ,nantucket1 the supply has on the average remained the same4 ,of course there is varying abundance each year1 but as a whole the industry in these localities can hardly be said to have declined4 ,on the other hand1 on the north side of ,cape ,cod we find a marked decline4 ,a scallop fishery no longer exists at ,plymouth1 ,barnstable harbor1 ,wellfleet and ,provincetown1 though twenty-five years ago these places boasted of a valuable industry4 ,so we have to-day in ,massachusetts three localities1 two of which show a marked decline in the scallop fishery1 while the other shows some improvement4 ,of the two depleted areas1 the one 7north of the ,cape7 may never revive the industry2 the other 7,buzzards ,bay7 gives indications that the industry can once more be put on a very profitable footing4 ,the only thing necessary is perpetual precaution on the part of the fishermen1 in order to prevent this decline4 ,massachusetts must not allow the industry to become extinct1 as in ,rhode ,island4 ,,ii4 ,causes of the ,decline4--,the causes of the decline of this industry can be grouped under three heads3 7#a7 natural enemies2 7#b7 overfishing by man2 7#c7 adverse physical conditions4 ,the natural enemy of the scallop which works the greatest mischief is the starfish1 or five finger1 as it is often called4 ,the starfish destroys the scallop in the same manner as it attacks the oyster4 ,the decline of the scallop fishery in ,buzzards ,bay is attributed by the fishermen to the inroads of this pest4 ,undoubtedly the starfish was the chief apparent cause1 since1 according to report1 dredges full of starfish could be hauled up4 ,in other localities in ,massachusetts the starfish has not been so plentiful4 ,while the main cause of the decline of the natural clam1 quahaug and oyster beds is overfishing by man1 the decline of the scallop fishery cannot be so considered4 ,the scallop has a short life1 hardly #be per cent4 passing the two-year limit2 so it does no harm to capture the marketable scallops which are over sixteen months old1 as the scallop spawns when one year old1 and dies a natural death usually before it reaches a second spawning season4 ,when only old scallops are taken1 as is generally the case1 it is probably impossible for man to exterminate the scallops by overfishing4 ,unfortunately1 in certain localities in the past there has been a large capture of the seed scallop1 viz41 the scallop less than one year old1 which has not spawned4 ,this has worked the ruin of the scalloping in these localities4 ,the capture of the spawners for another year merely makes the next year's set so much smaller1 and causes a rapid decline4 ,as a rule1 it is hardly profitable to catch the seed scallop1 owing to its small size4 ,but a direct relation can be established between a high market price and the capture of seed4 ,when the market price is high and scallops scarce1 it becomes profitable to catch the young seed4 ,the present scallop law now defines a seed scallop1 and forbids its capture4 ,by protecting the seed scallop the ,state has done all that at present appears expedient to insure the future of the industry2 the rest lies in the hands of the towns4 ,so1 while the scallop has declined in certain localities1 and the decline has been hastened by unwise capture of the seed scallop1 the main decline of the fishery cannot be attributed to wholesale overfishing1 as it is impossible to overfish if only the old scallops 7over one year old7 are taken2 for1 unlike most other animals1 the scallop usually breeds but once1 and its natural period of life is unusually brief4 ,these scallops1 if not taken1 will die1 and prove a total loss2 so every fisherman should bear in mind that1 as long as the seed scallops are protected1 severe fishing of large scallops is not likely to injure the future scallop industry4 ,the principal causes of the decline of the fishery1 besides the inroads of man1 are best termed adverse physical conditions4 ,severe winters1 storms1 anchor frost1 etc41 work destruction upon the hapless scallop4 ,the infant mortality is especially great4 ,as the scallop dies before reaching its second birthday1 only one set of scallops spawn in any one season4 ,there are never two generations of scallops spawning at one time4 ,i quote from ,ernest ,ingersoll in this connection3-- ,this represents a case where the generations follow one another so rapidly that there are never two ranks1 or generations1 in condition to reproduce their kind at once1 except in rare individual instances1 since all1 or nearly all1 of the old ones die before the young ones have grown old enough to spawn4 ,if such a state of affairs exists1 of course any sudden catastrophe1 such as a great and cold storm during the winter1 or the covering of the water where they lie for a long period with a sheet of ice1 happening to kill all the tender young 7and old ones1 too1 often7 in a particular district1 will exterminate the breed there2 since1 even if the older and tougher ones survive this shock1 they will not live long enough1 or at any rate1 will be unable to spawn again1 and so start a new generation4#aj ,the set of young scallops is abundant in shallow water upon the eel-grass flats1 which often1 as is the case of the ,common ,flats at ,chatham1 are exposed at extremely low tides4 ,a severe winter often kills off all the seed thus exposed4 ,in this case no spawn is obtained the following summer1 causing the suppression of the scallop fishery in that locality for at least a few years1 and possibly its permanent extinction4 ,,iii4 ,improvement2 restocking ,barren ,areas4--,the scallop industry1 unlike the clam and quahaug1 offers but little inducement to private enterprise4 ,for successful private culture small bays or coves would be needed1 and suitable areas are very scarce4 ,the scallop offers better opportunity for communal culture1 i4e41 by towns4 ,there is but one way now known of artificial propagation for the scallop industry1 and that is by transplanting in the fall the abundant set from the exposed places to the deeper water before the seed is killed by the winter4 ,it is merely assisting nature by preventing a natural loss1 and in no sense can properly be termed propagation4 ,it is merely a preventive1 and money used in this way to preserve the scallops is well expended4 ,usually the set is abundant1 and can be transferred in large numbers4 ,this is the only practical method now known of increasing our scallop supply1 though it is hoped in the future that other methods may be devised4 ,in connection with the above comes the question1 if we can thus preserve scallops doomed to destruction1 will it not be profitable to transplant scallops to places where the scalloping has been exterminated by various causes1 and by means of these seeders furnish succeeding generations which may populate the barren areas8 ,this plan is practical and feasible1 and should be given due consideration4 ,why should not scallops be transplanted to our ,buzzards ,bay harbors1 to again restock these areas8 ,often the attempt might fail1 but there is bound to be success if there is perseverance4 ,the best time to plant these scallops is in the fall1 as a double service will be given3 7#a7 preservation from destruction of the seed scallops2 7#b7 furnishing spawn and young in the barren locality4 ,ingersoll speaks of the restocking of ,oyster ,bay in #ahhj3-- ,in the spring of #ahhj eel grass came into the bay1 bringing young scallops the eel grass carries the scallops attached to it by the thread-like byssus2 thus the abundance of that year was accounted for1 though there had not been a crop before in that bay since #ahgd4 ,if such a restocking can be accomplished by nature1 it can be done with more certain effect with man's assistance4 ,the ,industry4 ,i4 ,the ,methods4--,the methods of scalloping follow the historical rise of the fishery4 ,as the industry grew more and more important1 improvements became necessary in the methods of capture1 and thus1 parallel with the development of the industry1 we can trace a corresponding development in the implements used in the capture of the scallop4 7a7 ,gathering by ,hand4--,when the scallop was first used as an article of food1 the primitive method of gathering this bivalve by hand was used4 ,this method still exists on the flats of ,brewster1 and often in other localities after heavy gales wagons can be driven to the beach and loaded with the scallops which have been blown ashore4 7b7 ,scoop ,nets4--,this hand method was not rapid enough for the enterprising scallopers1 and the next step in the industry was the use of scoop nets1 about #h inches in diameter1 by which the scallops could be picked up in the water4 ,these nets were attached to poles of various lengths1 suitable to the depth of water4 ,this method1 writes ,ingersoll1 was speedily condemned1 however1 because it could be employed only where scallops are a foot thick and inches in length1 as one fisherman expressed it4 7c7 ,the ,pusher4--,the next invention was the so-called pusher4 ,the pusher consists of a wooden pole from #h to #i feet long1 attached to a rectangular iron frame #c by #a feet1 upon which is fitted a netting bag #c feet in depth4 ,the scalloper1 wading on the flats at low tide1 gathers the scallops by shoving the pusher among the eel grass4 ,when the bag is full1 the contents are emptied into the dory and the process repeated4 ,the scallopers who use the pusher go in dories1 which are taken to the various parts of the scalloping ground and moved whenever the immediate locality is exhausted4 ,this method is in use to-day1 but is applicable only to shallow flats1 and can be worked only at low tide1 where dredging is impossible4 ,it is hard work1 and not as profitable as the better method of dredging4 ,this method of scalloping is used chiefly at ,chatham1 ,dennis and ,yarmouth2 occasionally it is used at ,nantucket and other towns4 7d7 ,dredging4--,the greater part of the scallop catch is taken by dredging1 which is the most universal as well as the most profitable method4 ,the dredge1 commonly pronounced drudge1 consists of an iron framework about #c by #a feet1 with a netting bag attached1 which will hold from one to two bushels of scallops4 ,cat boats1 carrying from #f to #aj dredges1 are used for this method of scalloping4 ,these boats1 with several reefs1 cross the scallop grounds pulling the dredges1 which hold the boat steady in her course4 ,a single run with all the dredges overboard is called a drift4 ,the contents of all the dredges is said to be the result or catch of the drift4 ,when the dredges are hauled in they are emptied on what is known as a culling board4 ,this board runs the width of the boat1 projecting slightly on both sides4 ,it is #c feet wide1 and has a guide #c inches high along each side1 leaving the ends open4 ,the scallops are then separated from the rubbish1 such as seaweed1 shells1 mud1 etc41 while the refuse and seed scallops are thrown overboard by merely pushing them off the end of the board4 ,each catch is culled out while the dredges are being pulled along on the back drift1 and the board is again clear for the next catch4 ,the culled scallops are first put in buckets and later transferred either to bushel bags or dumped into the cockpit of the boat4 ,two men are usually required to tend from #f to #h dredges in a large cat boat1 but often one man alone does all the work4 ,this seems to be confined to localities1 as at ,nantucket nearly all the cat boats have two men4 ,at ,edgartown the reverse is true1 one man to the boat1 though in power dredging two men are always used4 ,several styles of dredges are used in scalloping1 as each locality has its own special kind1 which is best adapted to the scalloping bottom of that region4 ,four different styles are used in ,massachusetts1 two of which permit a subdivision1 making in all six different forms4 ,each of these dredges is said by the scallopers using them to be the best2 but for all-round work the scraper seems the most popular4 7#a7 ,the ,chatham or ,box ,dredge4--,as this dredge was first used in ,chatham1 the name of the town was given to it1 to distinguish it from the other styles4 ,at the present time its use is confined to ,chatham and the neighboring towns of the ,cape4 ,with the exception of a very few used at ,nantucket1 it is not found elsewhere in ,massachusetts4 ,the style of the box dredge is peculiar1 consisting of a rectangular framework1 #bg by #ab inches1 of flat iron #a by inches1 with an oval-shaped iron bar extending back as a support for the netting bag1 which is attached to the rectangular frame4 ,to the side of the rectangular frame is attached a heavy iron chain about #d feet long1 to which is fastened the drag rope4 7#b7 ,the ,scraper4--,as can be seen by the illustration1 this style of dredge consists of a rigid iron frame of triangular shape1 which has a curve of nearly #ij at the base1 to form the bowl of the dredge4 ,above1 a raised cross bar connects the two arms1 while at the bottom of the dredge a strip of iron #b inches wide extends from arm to arm4 ,this strip acts as a scraping blade1 and is set at an angle so as to dig into the bottom4 ,the top of the net is fastened to the raised cross bar and the lower part to the blade4 ,the usual dimensions of the dredge are3 arms1 #b feet2 upper cross bar1 #b feet2 blade1 #b feet4 ,the net varies in size1 usually holding about a bushel of scallops1 and running from #b to #c feet in length4 ,additional weights can be put on the cross bar when the scalloper desires the dredge to scrape deeper4 ,a wooden bar1 #b feet long1 buoys the net4 ,two styles of this dredge are in use4 ,at ,nantucket the whole net is made of twine1 while at ,edgartown and in ,buzzards ,bay the lower part of the net is formed of a netting of iron rings1 the upper half of the net being twine4 ,the iron rings are supposed to stand the wear better than the twine netting4 ,this difference seems to be merely a matter of local choice4 ,the scraper is perhaps the dredge most generally used1 as1 no matter what style is in use1 a scalloper generally has a few scrapers among his dredges4 7#c7 ,the ,slider4--,the principle of the slider is the reverse of the scraper1 as the blade is set either level or with an upward incline1 so the dredge can slide over the bottom4 ,this dredge is used on rough bottom and in places where there is little eel-grass4 ,in some dredges the blade is rigid1 but in the majority the blade hangs loose4 ,the slider used at ,edgartown differs from the scraper by having perfectly straight arms and no curved bowl1 the blade being fastened to the arms in a hook-and-eye fashion4 ,the dimensions of this dredge are the same as those of the scraper1 although occasionally smaller dredges are found4 7#d7 ,the ,roller ,dredge4--,this style of dredge is used only in the town of ,mattapoisett1 where the scallopers claim it is the most successful4 ,the dredge is suitable for scalloping over rough ground1 as the blade of the dredge is merely a line of leads1 which roll over the surface of the ground gathering in the scallops4 ,the dredge consists of an oval iron frame1 #cb by #bj inches1 which acts as the arms1 and is attached to another iron frame1 #cb by #c inches4 ,the blade of the dredge consists of a thin rope with attached leads4 ,the net is made wholly of twine1 and is about #b feet long4 ,scalloping with ,power ,boats4--,the season of #aijg has witnessed in ,massachusetts the first use of auxiliary power in the scallop fishery4 ,at ,edgartown the main part of the scalloping is now done by power1 which1 in spite of the additional expense of #e gallons of gasolene per day1 gives a proportionately larger catch of scallops4 ,the ,edgartown scallopers claim that their daily catch1 using power1 is from one-third to one-half better than under the old method of dredging by sail4 ,not only can they scallop when the wind is too light or too heavy for successful scalloping by sail1 but more drifts can be made in the same time4 ,a slight disadvantage of scalloping with power is the necessity of having two men1 as the steering of the power boat demands much closer attention than the sail boat1 which is practically held to a fixed course by the dredges4 ,a power boat for scalloping possesses only the disadvantage of additional cost2 but it is only necessary to look forward a few years1 when expedition rather than cheapness will be in demand1 to a partial revolution in the present methods of scalloping1 whereby the auxiliary cat boat will take the place of the sail boat in the scallop fishery4 ,,ii4 ,preparing the ,scallop for ,market4 7#a7 ,the ,eye4--,the edible part of the scallop is the large adductor muscle4 ,the rest of the animal is thrown away1 though in certain localities it is used as fish bait and in others for fertilizer4 ,why the whole of the animal is not eaten is hard to say4 ,undoubtedly all is good1 but popular prejudice1 which molds opinion1 has decreed that it is bad1 so it is not used as food4 ,this is perhaps due to the highly pigmented and colored portions of the animal4 ,nevertheless1 there is a decided possibility that in the future we shall eat the entire scallop1 as well as the luscious adductor muscle4 ,the adductor muscle is called by the dealers and fishermen the eye1 a name given perhaps from its important position in the animal1 and its appearance4 ,the color of the eye1 which has a cylindrical form1 is a yellowish white4 7#b7 ,the ,shanties4--,the catch of scallops is carried to the shanty of the fisherman1 and there opened4 ,these shanties are usually grouped on the dock1 so the catch can be readily transferred4 ,inside of these shanties1 usually #bj by #aj feet or larger1 we find a large bench #c to #c feet wide1 running the length of the shanty1 and a little more than waist high4 ,on these benches the scallops are dumped from the baskets or bags1 and pass through the hands of the openers4 ,under the bench are barrels for the shells and refuse4 7#c7 ,the ,openers4--,the openers are usually men and boys1 though occasionally a few women try their hand at the work4 ,of late years there has been a difficulty in obtaining sufficient openers1 and the scallopers often are forced to open their own scallops4 ,the openers are paid from #bj to #cj cents per gallon1 according to the size of the scallops4 ,one bushel of average scallops will open #b to #c quarts of eyes4 ,an opener can often open #h to #aj gallons in a day1 making an excellent day's work4 ,the price now paid is more than double that paid in #ahhj1 which was #ab cents per gallon4 ,some openers are especially rapid1 and their deft movements cause a continual dropping of shells in the barrel and eyes in the gallon measure4 7#d7 ,method of opening the ,scallop4--,the opening of a scallop requires three movements4 ,a flat piece of steel with a sharp but rounded end1 inserted in a wooden handle1 answers for a knife4 ,the scallop is taken by a right-handed opener in the palm of the left hand1 the hinge line farthest away from the body1 the scallop in its natural resting position1 the right or smooth valve down4 ,the knife is inserted between the valves on the right-hand side4 ,an upward turn with a cutting motion is given1 severing the eye from the upper valve1 while a flirt at the same moment throws back the upper shell4 ,the second motion tears the soft rim and visceral mass of the scallop and casts it into the barrel1 leaving the eye standing clear4 ,a third movement separates the eye from the shell and casts it into a gallon measure4 ,frequently the last two movements are slightly different4 ,the faster openers at the second motion merely tear off enough of the rim to allow the separation of the eye from the shell1 and on the third movement cast the eye in the measure1 while the shell with its adhering soft parts is thrown into the refuse barrel4 ,these last two motions can hardly be separated1 so quickly are they accomplished4 7#e7 ,soaking4--,the eye is then usually put through the following course of treatment before marketing2 the treatment is what is familiarly known as soaking4 ,it has been noticed that whenever salt water products are allowed to soak in fresh water1 an increase of bulk is found4 ,this is due to a change1 called osmosis1 which causes the swelling of the tissues4 ,the eye can be increased1 by the process of osmosis1 to a gain of more than one-third its natural size2 that is1 #d gallons of scallop eyes can be increased to #g gallons by judicious feeding with fresh water4 ,also1 a change has taken place in the scallops after a few hours' soaking4 ,no longer do we find the poor yellow-colored small eye of the freshly opened scallop1 but a beautiful white1 plump eye1 which at once tempts the purchaser4 ,while these changes have added to the salable properties of the scallop by beautifying its appearance and increasing its size1 the scallop has lost much of its sweet flavor and freshness4 ,practically every scallop sold in the markets or shipped from any scalloping center is soaked1 as the soaking1 if not already done by the fishermen1 is administered by the retail dealers4 ,there are scallopers who are ready to ship the unsoaked scallops at a proportionate price the moment the market demands them2 but the consumer1 through ignorance1 demands the large1 nice-appearing eyes1 and thus unwittingly favors the practice4 ,however1 as long as pure water is used and other sanitary precautions taken1 no actual harm may arise from soaking scallops4 ,two methods of swelling scallops are in use4 ,when the scallops are shipped in kegs1 which usually contain #g gallons1 the following method is applied3 #d to #e gallons of eyes are placed in each keg1 and are allowed to stand over night in fresh water2 in the morning before shipment more water is added and the keg closed1 and by the time of arrival to the ,new ,york or ,boston market the scallops have increased to the full amount of #g gallons4 ,the second method of soaking is slightly more elaborate4 ,the eyes are spread evenly in shallow wooden sinks #e by #c feet1 with just enough fresh water to cover them1 and left over night4 ,in the morning a milky fluid is drawn off1 and the soaked scallops are packed for market in kegs or butter tubs4 7#f7 ,shipment4--,the kegs in which the scallops are shipped cost #cj cents apiece1 and contain about #g gallons4 ,a full keg is known as a package4 ,the butter tubs are less expensive1 but hold only #d to #e gallons4 ,indeed1 anything which will hold scallops for shipment is used to send them to market4 ,when the scallops get to the market they are strained and weighed1 #i pounds being considered the weight of a gallon of meats4 ,in this way about #f gallons are realized from every #g-;gallon keg4 ,with the improved methods of modern times scallops can be shipped far west or be held for months in cold storage1 for which purpose unsoaked scallops are required4 ,certain firms have tried this method of keeping the catch until prices were high1 but it has not been especially successful4 7#g7 ,market4--,one of the greatest trials to the scallop fisherman is the uncertainty of market returns when shipping4 ,he does not know the price he is to receive2 and1 as the price depends on the supply on the market1 he may receive high wages or he may get scarcely anything4 ,the wholesale market alone can regulate the price1 and the fisherman is powerless4 ,while this is hard on the scalloper1 it does not appear that at the present time anything can be done to remedy the uncertainty of return4 ,the scallop returns from the ,new ,york market are usually higher than from the ,boston market4 ,the result of this has been to give ,new ,york each year the greater part of the scallop trade1 and practically all the ,nantucket and ,edgartown scallops are shipped to ,new ,york4 ,either from a feeling of loyalty1 or because the market returns are sooner forwarded1 or because the express charges are less1 ,cape ,cod still ships to the ,boston market1 in spite of the better prices offered in ,new ,york4 ,why so many ,cape scallopers should continue to ship to ,boston1 and resist the attractions of better prices1 is impossible to determine1 and appears to be only a question of custom4 7#h7 ,the ,price4--,the price of scallops varies with the supply4 ,the demand is fairly constant1 showing a slight but decided increase each year4 ,on the other hand1 the supply is irregular1 some years scallops being plentiful1 in other years scarce4 ,the ,maine or ,deep-sea ,scallop4--,in the ,boston market the shallow-water scallop has a formidable rival in the giant scallop of the ,maine coast1 which is nearly twice as large4 ,nevertheless1 the ,cape scallop maintains its superiority and still leads its larger brother in popular favor1 wholesaling at #ej to #gj cents more a gallon4 ,there is no doubt that this competition has had a tendency to lower the price of the ,cape scallop1 possibly accounting for the higher market price in ,new ,york4 ,outfit of a ,scalloper4--,while we have traced the scallop from its capture among the eel-grass to its final disposition1 we have not considered the equipment of the scalloper4 ,the average capital invested in the business can best be summed up under these two heads1--the boat fisherman and the dory fisherman4 ,boat ,fisherman4 ,boat1 #ejj4jj ,dory1 #bj4jj ,six dredges1 #be4jj ,rope and gear1 #be4jj ,culling board1 #b4jj ,incidentals1 #c4jj ,shanty1 #ej4jj ------- ,total1 #fbe4jj ,dory ,fisherman4 ,dory1 #bj4jj ,oars1 #a4ej ,pusher1 #b4ej ,shanty1 #be4jj ------- ,total1 #di4jj ,,iii4 ,the ,scallop ,season4--,there is considerable diversity of opinion among the scallopers as to when the scallop season should open4 ,some advocate ,november #a as the opening date1 instead of ,october #a1 as the present law reads2 and many arguments are put forth by both sides4 ,the class of fishermen who desire ,november #a are those who are engaged in other fishing during the month of ,october1 and either have to give it up or lose the first month of scalloping4 ,naturally1 they wish a change1 putting forth the additional argument of better prices if the season begins later4 ,the scalloper who is not engaged in other fishing of course desires the law to remain as it is at the present time1 claiming that the better weather of ,october gives easier work1 more working days1 and allows no chance of loss if the winter is severe4 ,under the present law1 the town can regulate the opening of its season to suit the demands of the market and the desire of the inhabitants4 ,this does away with the necessity of any ,state law on this point1 which1 under the present system of town control1 would be inadvisable4 ,the general opinion of the fishermen is in favor of the present date1 ,october #a4 ,as nearly as could be determined1 about #ge per cent4 favor ,october #a and #be per cent4 ,november #a4 ,this sentiment is divided by localities1 as more men were in favor of ,november #a at ,nantucket and ,edgartown than on ,cape ,cod and ,buzzards ,bay1 where very few favored a change4 ,,iv4 ,the ,utilization of ,waste4--,while it seems an enormous waste that out of a bushel of scallops only #b to #c quarts of edible meats are obtained1 it is not all absolute loss4 ,oyster growers buy the shells for cultch to catch the oyster seed1 paying from #c to #e cents per bushel4 ,other uses are found1 such as ornaments and in making shell roads4 ,the refuse is used for fish bait1 and often barrels of it are salted for this purpose4 ,it is also used in some places for manure for agricultural purposes4 ,in the last year a new use for scallop shells has developed4 ,similar to the souvenir postal card1 scallop shells bound together with ribbon and containing miniature photographic views have been put on the market4 ,three firms near ,boston make a business of this1 and use only the lower or bright valve of the scallop4 ,certain scallopers furnish these scallop shells1 cleaned of meat1 at the rate of #f per barrel2 and1 though it takes considerable time to separate the shells when opening1 the excellent price makes this new industry pay4 ,the question of the future is to find new and more important uses for our waste sea products4 ,some day what is now waste in the scallop industry may be utilized for the benefit of the public4 ,v4 ,food ,value4--,as a food the scallop stands ahead of all the other shellfish1 containing much more nourishment than the oyster4 ,the following figures are from the tables of ,professor ,atwater1 rearranged by ,c4 ,f4 ,langworthy3#aa-- 7,all values expressed as per cent47 ,refuse1 ,salt ,water ,protein ,fat ,bone1 ,skin1 etc4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------- ,oysters1 solids1 -- -- #hh4c #f4a #a4d ,oysters1 in shell1 #hb4c -- #ae4d #a4a 4#b ,oysters1 canned1 -- -- #he4c #g4d #b4a ,scallops1 -- -- #hj4c #ad4g 4#b ,soft clams1 in shell1 #dc4f -- #dh4d #d4h 4#f ,soft clams1 canned1 -- -- #hd4e #i4j #a4c ,quahaugs1 removed from shell1 -- -- #hj4h #aj4f #a4a ,quahaugs1 in shell1 #fh4c -- #bg4c #b4a 4#a ,quahaugs1 canned1 -- -- #hc4j #aj4d 4#h ,mussels1 #di4c -- #db4g #d4d 4#e ,general average of mollusks #fj4b -- #cd4j #c4b 4#d 7exclusive of canned74 7,all values expressed as per cent47 ,carbohy- ,mineral ,total ,fuel drates ,matter ,nutrients ,value per ,pound ---------------------------------------- -------------------------- ,oysters1 solids1 #c4c 4#i #aa4g #bce ,oysters1 in shell1 4#f 4#d #b4c #dj ,oysters1 canned1 #c4i #a4c #ad4g #cjj ,scallops1 #c4d #a4d #ai4g #cde ,soft clams1 in shell1 #a4a #a4e #h4j #ace ,soft clams1 canned1 #b4i #b4c #ae4e #bge ,quahaugs1 removed from shell1 #e4b #b4c #ai4b #cdj ,quahaugs1 in shell1 #a4c 4#i #d4d #fe ,quahaugs1 canned1 #c4j #b4h #ag4j #bhe ,mussels1 #b4a #a4j #h4j #adj ,general average of mollusks #a4c 4#i #e4h #ajj 7exclusive of canned74 ,the ,laws4 ,the ,state laws regulating the fishery were made for the benefit of the industry and for the preservation of the seed scallop1 which is the only requirement necessary for insuring the future supply4 ,each town has charge over its scallop fishery1 under the general shellfish act of #ahhj1 which entrusted all regulation of the shellfisheries to the selectmen of the towns4 ,the town laws governing the scallop fishery are by far the most satisfactory of the shellfish laws of the towns4 ,although in many respects beneficial1 they have certain disadvantages4 ,the main disadvantage of the town laws is found in the jealousy of neighboring towns4 ,one town may make a law to oppose another town1 and will often injure its own interests thereby4 ,in this connection the condition at ,dennis1 during the winter of #aijd-je1 was an instance4 ,as scallops were remarkably abundant1 the town made by-laws intended to exclude from its scallop fisheries the residents of other towns4 ,at the close of the scalloping season1 when the ice came1 the scallops were still abundant4 ,the inhabitants of the town thought they could get the rest next season4 ,they did not know that the scallop does not live two years4 ,the next year not a single scallop of that set was to be found2 they had died4 ,if other scallopers had been allowed to go there1 thousands of dollars could have been saved1 and many scallopers given employment4 ,this one case illustrates the disadvantages of town jealousy2 and ,dennis is by no means to blame1 as it merely protected itself against the similar restrictions of neighboring ,cape ,cod towns4 ,the town laws which benefit the scallop industry are made each year according to the condition of the industry4 ,edgartown and ,nantucket have perhaps the best-governed scallop industries4 ,laws requiring licenses1 regulating the opening of the season and restricting at proper times the catch1 so as to get the best market prices instead of overstocking the market when the prices are low1 are to be recommended on account of their benefit to the scallopers4 ,history4 ,in considering the rise of a fishing industry1 it is often difficult to state exactly the year when the industry started1 as there are differences of opinion as to how large a fishery should be before it could be justly considered an industry4 ,the scallop fishery has existed for years1 but did not become an established industry of the ,state before the year #ahgb4 ,at that time there was hardly any demand for scallops1 and the catch was with difficulty marketed4 ,since then the market demand for the scallop has steadily increased1 until the supply can hardly meet the popular demand4 ,it seems almost incredible that the scallop as an article of food should once have been scorned and practically unknown4 ,during the years of #ahgf and #ahgg the industry took a sudden spurt4 ,at this time the introduction of the dredge on ,cape ,cod revolutionized the industry1 and made it possible to open up the deep-water fields4 ,the industry on ,cape ,cod first started at ,hyannis1 where a number of men entered the new business2 and for several years the production increased rapidly1 with the opening of new territories and improved methods of capture4 ,while the natural supply has remained the same or declined in certain localities1 as has been shown in a previous part of this report1 the value of the industry1 in regard to the number of men engaged and capital invested1 has steadily increased4 ,,scallop ,,production ,,for ,,massachusetts4#ab ,,year4 ,bushels4 ,value4 ,gallons4 ,price per ,gallon4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------- #ahgi1 #aj1edb #c1ead #g1jbh #j4ej #ahhg1 #da1ifd #ch1icc #bg1igf #a4ci #ahhh1 #bf1afh #dc1bjb #ag1ddf #b4dh #ahih1 #abh1hfc #he1chc #he1ijh #j4ii #aijb1 #ff1aej #hi1ihb #dd1ajj #b4jd #aije1 #dc1hgb #ih1gab #bi1bdh #c4cg ,these figures show that the price of scallops varies greatly1 dependent largely upon the amount caught that season2 also that there has been1 in spite of the irregularity of the catch1 a gradual rise in prices since #ahgi1 due to a more extensive market4 ,in considering the scallop industry the following points should be noted3 7#a7 ,it has been necessary to record as scallop area any grounds where scallops have ever been found1 in spite of the fact that only a portion of this total area is in any one year productive4 7#b7 ,the boats engaged in the scallop fishery are but transitory capital1 which is utilized1 outside of the scallop season1 in other fisheries4 7#c7 ,the quahaug and scallop fisheries in many towns supplement each other1 as the same men and boats are engaged in both industries4 7#d7 ,the length of the season varies in the different localities4 ,in ,new ,bedford and ,fairhaven the scallops are mostly caught in a few weeks1 as many boats enter the business temporarily4 ,this necessarily gives an excess of invested capital and a small production4 ,in these two towns the number of scallop licenses are recorded as showing the number of men engaged in the fishery1 while as a fact but a small part of these are steadily engaged in the industry4 ,key3 ,n ,number ,number ,boats ,extra ,value ,production ,area of of ,dories of #aijg-jh ,scallop ,,town ,men -------------------- ,gear ---------------,grounds ,n ,value ,n ,value ,gallons ,value 7,acres7 ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,barnstable #ci #bc #h1jjj - - #ege #a1ecj #b1jjd #b1hjj ,bourne #ch #cj #ae1jjj - - #a1bjj #ab1jjj #ae1gbj #c1jjj ,chatham #ajg #ce #aj1fej #faa1dcj #a1ahe #cd1fae #de1cde #b1jjj ,dennis #cj #i #d1bcj #i #ahj #cfh #b1iej #c1hfe #b1bej ,edgartown #ci #bf #h1jjj - - #eej #ag1jjj #bb1bgj #b1jjj ,fairhaven #gcac #ej #ab1ejj - - #a1ejj #a1cjj #a1gjc #b1ejj ,harwich #ab #g #b1cej - - #bhj #b1agj #b1hdc #c1bjj ,marion #dd #af #e1cjj #bd #bej #ehj #g1jjj #i1agj #a1ejj ,mattapoisett #bb #ai #f1ijj - - #gfj #e1jjj #f1eej #a1bjj ,nantucket #ii #dg #ac1bej #bj #ejj #gjj #bj1bde #bf1eci #d1ejj ,new ,bedford #chac #bj #e1jjj - - #fjj #gjj #iag #djj ,tisbury #bj #h #c1jjj #f #ij #cjj #c1jjj #c1icj #hjj ,wareham #de #cf #aj1hjj - - #a1cjj #aj1jjj #ac1ajj #b1ejj ,yarmouth #da #ae #c1gej #aj #bjj #dge #h1jjj #aj1dhj #b1bej ---------------------------------------- --------------------------- ,total #fdg #cdaajh1gcjacjb1fejaj1cgcabe1eajafd1dcf #cj1ijj ,barnstable4 ,the principal scalloping grounds of the town of ,barnstable are found in ,hyannis bay and at ,cotuit4 ,scallops are said to have once been abundant in ,barnstable harbor1 on the north side of ,cape ,cod4 ,at the present day the scallop is unknown commercially in this locality1 and few are found on the sand flats of the harbor4 ,a4 ,howard ,clark1 in his report on the fisheries of ,massachusetts1 in #ahhj1 makes the following statement concerning this industry in ,barnstable harbor3-- ,scallops are abundant along the shores of the harbor1 and in #ahgf a party of men from ,hyannis established themselves here for the purpose of gathering them4 ,in #ahgg the price of scallops declined very greatly1 forcing these men to abandon their enterprise4 ,the fishery was continued1 however1 by two men of ,barnstable4 ,in the winter of #ahgg-gh the latter shipped #dj half-barrels of eyes1 and during the winter of #ahgh-gi only #f half-barrels4 ,they were sent to ,boston and ,new ,york4 ,this furnishes a concrete example of the extinction of the productive scallop beds in certain localities4 ,the chances are that a severe winter or other adverse physical conditions killed all the scallops in the harbor1 and rendered impossible any future supply4 ,although ,barnstable harbor1 with its swift tides1 is not suitable for scallops in all parts1 yet there are certain localities where they should thrive4 ,in no way is it visionary or impossible that by the proper transplanting of young scallops from the waters on the south side of the ,cape1 these seeders might furnish other generations of scallops1 and revive an extinct industry4 ,at any rate1 the chances for success in this line look favorable1 and should be carefully considered4 ,hyannis4--,although the scallop industry on the north coast of the town is extinct1 it still flourishes as of old on the south coast4 ,the bulk of the business is carried on here1 and nearly all the shipments are made from this town4 ,the scallop territory comprises #b1gjj acres1 in the following localities3 7#a7 ,lewis ,bay2 7#b7 near ,squaw's ,island2 7#c7 ,hyannisport harbor2 and 7#d7 the shore waters4 ,at ,hyannisport small scallops are taken with pushers in the shallow water1 while large scallops are taken by dredging in the other three localities4 ,scallops are found in different parts and in varying abundance each year4 ,practically all this territory as outlined on the map is suitable for scallops4 ,two methods of scalloping are in use at ,hyannis3 7#a7 the hand pusher1 used in shallow water1 especially in the harbor at ,hyannisport2 7#b7 dredging4 ,these two methods cover different territories1 and it is possible that one year scallops may be found only on the flats where it was impossible to dredge with a boat1 and another year be all in the deep water where the pusher cannot be used4 ,however1 in most years both methods are in use4 ,the dredge most commonly used is the scraper1 although the ,chatham style is found here4 ,six to nine are carried by each boat4 ,hyannis claims the distinction of shipping the first ,cape ,cod scallops to market4 ,this was in #ahgd1 and was the start of a considerable industry which employed #hj men4 ,there has been more or less scalloping ever since that time4 ,ernest ,ingersoll1 in his report on the scallop fishery of the ,united ,states1 in #ahhj1 says in reference to scallop fishing at ,hyannis from #ahgf to #ahgh3-- ,the most northerly locality at which such a fishery exists1 as far as ,i am informed1 is at ,hyannis1 ,mass41 and during the winter of #ahgg many persons of all ages and conditions were employed in it there4 ,one firm fitted up a large house expressly for the business1 and employed a large number of openers4 ,skiffs1 cat-rigged yawl boats1 dories and punts1 #bjj in number1 and of every size1 shape1 form and color1 were used2 most of them were flat bottomed1 shaped like a flatiron1 and therefore very tender when afloat4 ,each boat carried two dredges1 locally termed drags4 ,in that year1 according to ,mr4 ,f4 ,w4 ,true1 each of the #bjj boats averaged #abj bushels1 or #ajj gallons1 during the season1 which would give a total of #bd1jjj bushels1 or #bj1jjj gallons for the fleet4 ,the scallops were sent to ,new ,york and also to ,boston1 and an average price of #e per half-barrel was received4 ,in #ahgf the price was #g1 and in #ahgh only #c4ej4 ,further inquiries show that this spurt at ,hyannis had no precedent1 and has completely died away1 so that at present there is no catch there1 or at least no shipments4 ,the #aijd-je fishery was very successful1 while the season of #aije-jf proved the reverse4 ,the production for #aije-jf was #a1cej gallons1 valued at #c1bjj2 while the #aijf-jg season furnished #a1jjj gallons1 worth #b1jjj4 ,the following notes1 made in ,november1 #aije1 give the situation of the industry for that year3-- ,the scalloping areas this season have been at ,squaw's ,island and in ,lewis ,bay1 the first locality furnishing the better fishing4 ,by the middle of ,november both areas were practically exhausted and the season over4 ,the production to ,november #ab was #ijj gallons4 ,after that time the shipments to the ,boston and ,new ,york markets were small and irregular1 in spite of the high price of #c to #c4ej per gallon4 ,cotuit4--,in the report of ,mr4 ,ingersoll we find no mention of scalloping at ,cotuit4 ,either there was none in #ahgi1 or it was too small to be of any importance4 ,to-day the scalloping is of slight importance1 and practically all is used for home trade4 ,undoubtedly there has been but little change in the past twenty-five years4 ,side by side with the pigmy scallop industry has grown the oyster industry1 which has made ,cotuit famous4 ,undoubtedly the latter has sapped the strength of the former by encroaching on its area2 but it has always been for the best interests of the people1 as the oyster industry here is far more valuable than the scallop fishery4 ,the grounds of ,cotuit are quite small1 extending over an irregular strip of #ajj acres4 ,the bottom is mostly muddy1 and covered with patches of eel grass4 ,all the rest of the bay1 where the bottom is more suited for oyster culture1 is taken up by grants4 ,this scalloping area1 although small1 is free to the scallopers of ,osterville1 ,cotuit1 ,marston's ,mills and ,hyannis1 and even where heavily set it is soon fished out4 ,in the years previous to #aijd-je exceptionally fine scalloping had been reported by the fishermen4 ,the season of #aijd-je was exceptionally poor1 and in #aije-jf hardly any scallops were obtainable4 ,in #aijg scalloping began ,october #a1 and by ,december #ae all the boats were hauled up1 as the scallops became too scarce for profitable fishing4 ,dredging is the only important method employed in the ,cotuit fishery1 although a few scallops were picked up on the flats4 ,a town law forbidding the capture of scallops for market before ,december #a was passed in #ahii4 ,this1 nevertheless1 permitted any resident of ,barnstable1 between ,october #a and ,december #a1 to catch scallops for his family use1 and for this reason could never be strictly enforced4 ,in #aijg this law was repealed1 as many believed that it was detrimental rather than helpful to the ,cotuit interests1 as it gave the ,hyannis scallopers1 after they had fished for two months in ,hyannis ,bay1 the cream of the ,cotuit fishery4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number ,,boats4 ,value ,,production1 #aijg-jh4 ,,town4 of ---------------- of --------------------- ,men4 ,value4 ,number4 ,gear4 ,gallons4 ,value4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------------- ,hyannis1 #af #c1bjj #h #bjj #a1acj #a1dhj ,hyannisport1 #ad #b1hjj #g #bjj #ajj #aca ,cotuit1 #i #b1jjj #h #age #cjj #cic ---------------------------------------- ----------------------- ,total1 #ci #h1jjj #bc #ege #a1ecj #b1jjd ,bourne4 ,the villages of ,buzzards ,bay1 ,monument ,beach and ,cataumet share the scallop fishery of the town of ,bourne1 and have had during #aijg-jh a successful season for the first time in eight years4 ,the available scallop territory of the town covers approximately #c1jjj acres1 extending from ,buttermilk ,bay along the whole coast of the town to ,cataumet4 ,the fishing is mostly done by dredging with cat boats1 carrying from six to ten dredges per boat1 although a few scallopers dredge with power4 ,the dredges are generally of the scraper type1 with the chain bottom1 similar to the dredges used at ,edgartown4 ,the scallopers both open their own catch and hire openers to assist them4 ,thirty boats1 #h carrying #b men1 and #bb with #a man1 totalling #ch men1 are employed in the scallop fishery4 ,the industry lasted until ,jan4 #a1 #aijh1 when the boats were hauled up for winter4 ,the total estimate for the season is #bj1jjj bushels1 or #ab1jjj gallons 7unsoaked71 valued at #ae1gbj4 ,the largest daily catch recorded for one boat was #gb bushels4 ,the principal market is ,new ,york1 though part of the catch is sent to ,new ,bedford4 ,the price varied from #a4ae to #c per gallon4 ,the scallopers claim that they do not soak the scallops1 as the eye is large enough to sell well without increasing its size4 ,undoubtedly soaking is done to some extent4 ,the scallops are large1 opening about #c quarts per bushel4 ,twelve hundred dollars are invested in gear and #ae1jjj in boats1 which vary from #cjj to #a1cjj in value4 ,licenses costing #a are required by the selectmen of every scalloper4 ,here again we find the old tale of the decline of a once prosperous industry1 and new enthusiasm in the success of the #aijg-jh season4 ,the #aijf-jg season was an improvement over the previous one1 when eight licenses were issued1 allowing a maximum of #a1fje bushels to be taken4 ,in previous years no licenses were given1 as there were no scallops4 ,brewster4 ,scalloping at ,brewster can hardly be called an industry4 ,here the primitive method of picking up the scallops on the exposed flats at low tide is alone used4 ,the scallops are washed by the heavy seas on the flats1 and can be gathered by men1 women and children when the tide goes down4 ,somewhere in the deeper water is a bed of scallops1 but in #aije no one had been able to locate it4 ,in #aije only one man made a business of gathering and shipping these scallops4 ,he averaged #b bushels per tide1 going down with a team and carting them to his house1 where he opened them4 ,all shipments were made to ,boston1 at an average price of #a4ge to #b4 ,the people pick up many for home use4 ,chatham4 ,the town of ,chatham1 situated at the elbow of ,cape ,cod1 possesses abundant facilities for all the shore fisheries4 ,for the past twenty-five years the scallop fishery has held almost equal rank with the lobster and cod fisheries1 for which ,chatham is noted1 and has in many years furnished employment when other fishing had failed4 ,scallops are found only in the southern waters of the town4 ,between ,inward ,point and ,harding's ,beach many acres of eel-grass flats1 sheltered from the open ocean by ,monomoy ,island1 furnish excellent grounds for scallops4 ,the entire area of these grounds is approximately #b1jjj acres1 although this whole territory is never completely stocked in any one year4 ,during the season of #aijg-jh the following places constituted the scalloping grounds3-- 7#a7 ,island ,flats in ,stage ,harbor1 on the east side of the channel1 opposite ,harding's ,beach1 furnished a number of scallops1 which were rapidly caught the first of the season1 as these flats were near the town4 ,here the water is not more than #a to #b feet deep at low tide1 and thick eel grass covers the greater part except near the channel4 ,the first of the season a man could obtain #h bushels per day1 but later a catch of #b bushels was considered good4 7#b7 ,directly south of ,harding's ,beach lies ,john ,perry's flat1 commonly known as ,jerry's1 where there has been good scalloping for many years4 7#c7 ,the western half of the ,common ,flats furnished the best scalloping in #aijg-jh1 as the scallops1 though small 7#f pecks to a gallon71 were plentiful4 ,these flats run nearly dry on low course tides1 and are covered with eel grass4 ,nearly every year there is a heavy set of scallop seed1 which1 because of the exposed nature of the flats1 is wholly or partially destroyed4 ,the entire set was destroyed in the winter of #aijd-je1 while #cj per cent4 was lost in #aijf-jg4 7#d7 ,on the flats just south of ,inward ,point was another bed of scallops4 7#e7 ,in the bend north of ,inward ,point scallops were plentiful4 7#f7 ,on the northwest edge of the ,common ,flats scallops can be dredged over an area of #afj acres at a depth of #e fathoms4 ,these are of good size1 opening #c quarts to the bushel4 ,two methods of obtaining scallops are employed3 7#a7 by the use of the pusher2 and 7#b7 by dredging4 ,as the pusher is used on the flats at low water where the boats cannot sail1 the boat man possesses the advantage of pushing at low tide and dredging at high water4 ,sixty per cent4 of the scallopers at ,chatham go in dories and use pushers1 as the ,common ,flats afford excellent opportunity for this sort of fishing2 the remaining #dj per cent4 scallop in boats1 using pushers to a limited extent4 ,four to six box dredges are used for each boat1 the smaller boats carrying four1 the larger six4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #ajg ,dory men 7pushers71 #fb ,boat men 7dredgers71 #de ,number of boats1 #ce ,single-manned1 #bf ,double-manned1 #i ,value of boats1 #aj1fej ,number of dories1 #fa ,value of dories1 #a1dcj ,value of scallop gear for dories1 #ace ,value of scallop gear for boats1 #a1jej ,total value of scallop gear1 #a1ahe ,last season #cd1fae gallons1 valued at #de1cde1 were shipped to ,boston and ,new ,york4 ,shipments are made in butter tubs1 containing #d to #f gallons each4 ,the larger scallops in the deep water are from #b to #b inches in length1 taking #e pecks to open a gallon of eyes4 ,on the flats are smaller scallops1 from #b to #b inches in length1 of which #f pecks are required to make a gallon4 ,about #d1jjj gallons were bought in ,chatham by two dealers1 paying #a4cj per gallon2 the rest were shipped to ,boston and ,new ,york by the individual scallopers1 shipments being made semiweekly to ,new ,york4 ,the scallops were shipped in butter tubs containing from #d to #f gallons1 on which the express charges were3 to ,new ,york1 #fe cents2 to ,boston1 #ce cents4 ,the #aijg-jh production was #bj1jjj gallons1 valued at #dj1jjj4 ,in #aije-jf practically all the catch were seed scallops of the set of #aije2 only about #e per cent4 of the catch were scallops of the #aijd set4 ,owing to the exceptional cod fishing1 only #ae men made a business of scalloping1 going mostly one man to a boat1 and averaging #c bushels per day after the scalloping struck in1 ,dec4 #a1 #aije4 ,the high prices alone made it profitable to catch these small scallops1 which gave only #c pints of eyes to a bushel of shells1--just one-half the amount yielded by a bushel of large scallops4 ,the fishermen were all from ,south and ,west ,chatham4 ,the entire catch was estimated at #b1hjj gallons4 ,dennis4 ,the scallop grounds of ,dennis and ,yarmouth are common property for the inhabitants of both towns1 while other towns are excluded from the fishery4 ,the ,west ,dennis scallopers fish mostly on the ,yarmouth flats at the mouth of ,parker ,river1 and between ,bass and ,parker rivers on the shore flats4 ,there is also scalloping along the shore on the ,dennis grounds4 ,these grounds are for the pushers4 ,dredging is carried on at ,dennisport1 and the boats cover a wide territory at some distance from the shore4 ,the town possesses a large area1 which either has scattering scallops or is well stocked one year and barren the next4 ,nearly #b1bej acres of available territory is included in the waters of the town4 ,the flats1 which are of sand with thick or scattering eel grass1 according to the locality1 afford a good bottom for scallops4 ,were it not for the eel grass1 the scallops would perish by being washed on the shore by southerly winds4 ,thirty men make a business of scalloping in the town of ,dennis1 #bb from ,dennisport and #h from ,west ,dennis4 ,at ,dennisport scalloping is practically all done by dredging1 while at ,west ,dennis scallops are all taken by the use of pushers4 ,at ,dennisport #i boats1 #c sail and #f cat boats1 with power1 carrying #ah men1 are employed in the business4 ,here also are #d dory scallopers4 ,at ,west ,dennis the scallopers go mostly in pairs1 using only #e dories4 ,the dredges used at ,dennisport are similar to the ,chatham dredge4 ,at ,dennisport the scallopers open the scallops and also employ openers1 while at ,west ,dennis the scallopers do the entire work4 ,in #aijg-jh the production was #b1iej gallons1 valued at #c1hfe4 ,scallops were shipped to the ,new ,york and ,boston markets1 although the greater part of the catch went to ,new ,york4 ,the scallops taken at ,dennisport are large1 opening #c quarts to the bushel4 ,at ,west ,dennis1 where the fishing is done in the shallow water1 the scallops are somewhat smaller1 yielding only #b quarts to the bushel4 ,during the month of ,november large quantities of scallops were blown ashore at ,dennisport1 and it is said that as many as #gb bushels were gathered by one man in a day4 ,,capital ,,invested4 ,value of boats3-- ,sail1 #a1bcj ,power1 #c1jjj ,dories1 #ahj ------ ,total1 #d1daj ,value of gear3-- ,boat1 #cej ,dory1 #ah ------ ,total1 #cfh ,permits are required for scalloping1 but are issued free of charge by the selectmen4 ,dennis and ,yarmouth have common scallop fishery rights1 the town scallop regulation reading as follows3-- ,all persons other than the inhabitants of the towns of ,dennis and ,yarmouth are prohibited from taking scallops from the shores and waters of the town of ,yarmouth excepting for their family use1 and in no case without a permit4 ,during the season of #aijd-je there existed off ,dennisport one of the largest beds of scallops ever known in ,massachusetts4 ,not only was it extensive1 but the scallops were very numerous4 ,an enormous yield was the result1 affording great profit to a large number of scallopers1 and bringing into the town thousands of dollars4 ,it was stated by the scallopers that when the scalloping ceased because of the severe winter and ice the number of scallops appeared in no way diminished4 ,during the season the catch averaged over #be bushels per boat4 ,prospects looked good for the following season1 as the fishermen expected the scallops to live until the next year4 ,unfortunately1 the life of a scallop is less than two years1 and before spring practically the whole of this large bed was dead1--a heavy loss to the fishing interests of the town and of the ,state4 ,in cases like this the exclusion of scallopers from the neighboring towns1 through the present system of town laws1 has resulted in severe economic and financial loss to the ,state1 as many more scallops could have been captured without injury to the future supply if more fishermen had been given an opportunity to enjoy this fishery4 ,the following season1 #aije-jf1 presented a marked contrast to that of #aijd-je4 ,some adverse conditions had injured the set of #aije1 and as a result there were scarcely any adult scallops4 ,by ,january #a the scallops of the #aijf set had become large enough in certain localities to permit capture4 ,owing to the high prices1 these scallops1 less than eight months old 7seed scallops71 were profitable to catch1 and the season's catch at ,dennisport after ,january #a consisted of these young scallops4 ,at that time the present seed scallop law was not in force1 so the capture of these scallops was entirely legal4 ,about #f men were engaged during #aije-jf in scalloping at ,dennisport4 ,the scallops were obtained by dredging in the deeper water4 ,the average catch was #c to #d bushels per day4 ,the #aijf-jg season was hardly above the average4 ,at ,west ,dennis #h men were engaged in scalloping on the flats with pushers4 ,the scallops were small1 averaging about #b inches in width4 ,it is only once every three or four years that ,west ,dennis scallops are in the deep water where it is necessary to dredge them2 usually the scallops are found on the shallow-water flats4 ,the #aijg-jh season is the best season the town has had since #aijd-je4 ,dartmouth4 ,a few scallops are occasionally found in ,slocum's ,river and other places1 but in no quantity to furnish any commercial fishery4 ,eastham4 ,the scalloping grounds are on the west side of the town1 about half a mile out4 ,during the season of #aijf-jg1 #f men1 working at intervals during the winter1 managed to take a total of #ejj bushels from these flats4 ,edgartown4 ,edgartown1 situated at the eastern end of ,martha's ,vineyard1 possesses extensive scallop grounds1 and is one of the leading towns in the production of this shellfish4 ,this fishery1 even more important than the quahaug industry1 furnishes steady winter employment for a large number of the inhabitants4 ,the important grounds are in ,cape ,poge ,pond and in ,edgartown harbor1 while occasionally beds of scallops1 especially seed1 are found in ,katama ,bay4 ,these grounds comprise an area of #b1jjj acres1 chiefly of grass bottom4 ,at ,edgartown scalloping is done both with sail and with power boats1 which are generally auxiliary cat boats1 though power dories are used to some extent4 ,all but two of the power boats are doubly manned1 while the sail boats carry but one man4 ,eleven sail and #ae power boats1 employing #ci men1 are engaged in the fishery4 ,two kinds of dredges are used1 the scraper for scalloping in the eel grass and the slider for clean surface4 ,the depth of water over the scallop beds is not more than #ah feet1 necessitating #aj fathoms of rope4 ,the price of a dredge1 including rope1 is about #c1 which is cheaper than in the ,buzzards ,bay towns4 ,each power boat uses six to eight1 which are held out by spreaders1 poles extending from the sides of the boat1 in order that the dredges may cover more ground and not trail behind one another4 ,the greater part of the scalloping is done by power1 and1 in spite of the extra cost of nearly #ij cents per day1 the proportionate increase makes this method more profitable2 it is claimed to increase the catch about one-third4 ,scalloping with power necessitates the services of two men1 as one man has to cull while the other steers4 ,at the end of the drift the boat is stopped1 and both men cull4 ,with sail1 culling can be done when dredges are overboard4 ,when two men scallop1 the owner of the boat takes three-fifths while his partner shares two-fifths of the profit4 ,twenty-five to #cj openers prepare the scallop for market during the afternoons and evenings4 ,these are paid at the rate of #be cents per gallon1 and average about #a4ej per day1 a good opener cutting out a gallon of eyes in an hour4 ,small scallops open #gjj eyes per gallon2 the larger ones1 #ejj4 ,the #aijg-jh season was successful1 as the scallops were plentiful1 the daily catch per boat running between #e and #ej bushels4 ,about #ag1jjj gallons1 valued at #bb1bgj1 were shipped between ,oct4 #a1 #aijg1 and ,april #a1 #aijh4 ,shipments are made mostly to the ,new ,york market2 a very few to ,boston market4 ,the freight charges on a keg1 which weighs about #gj pounds1 is #ee cents4 ,in warm weather scallops are sent by express1 the charges being #hj cents4 ,the scallops are packed in butter tubs of large size1 averaging from #f to #g gallons1 and costing #h cents apiece4 ,these are obtained second hand from the grocery stores at ,new ,bedford4 ,the tubs are packed full and closed tightly4 ,by the time the scallops arrive at market they are reduced in quantity by the jarring1 in warm weather from #g to #f gallons1 and in cold from #g to #f4 ,returns from the market are made in about a week4 ,scallops can be held back for better prices three to four days in warm weather1 and about seven in cold4 ,,capital ,,invested4 ,value of power boats1 #e1bej ,value of sail boats1 #b1gej ,value of gear1 #eej ------ ,total1 #h1eej ,by vote of the town1 the season for several years has been open one month later than the ,state season4 ,shellfish permits costing #b are required of every scalloper4 ,the daily catch for one man is restricted to #be bushels4 ,edgartown was one of the pioneer towns in the ,state in the scallop fishery1 and as early as #ahge scallops were shipped to the market4 ,the industry has maintained a steady supply1 and has not shown the great variation of the ,cape and ,buzzards ,bay fisheries4 ,this is due perchance to the natural conditions1 which render favorable the maintenance of an extensive industry4 ,the last four seasons have been very successful1 as when scallops were scarce the increased price more than made up for the diminished supply4 ,the #aijd-je season was favorable1 but1 owing to the severe winter1 fishing ceased about ,january #a1 although scallops were plentiful both in ,cape ,poge ,pond and ,edgartown harbor4 ,in #aije-jf scallops were found only in ,cape ,poge ,pond1 as the previous severe winter had killed all the harbor seed4 ,this season was most successful1 as ,nantucket and ,edgartown1 owing to the scarcity of scallops in other localities1 received very high market prices4 ,scallops were more abundant in #aijf-jg1 but the lower prices made the industry less prosperous than in the previous season4 ,,comparison ,,of #ahgi ,,with #aijg-jh ,,production4 #ahgi4 #aijg-jh4 ------------------------------------- ,gallons1 #ejj #ag1jjj ,value1 #bej #bb1bgj ,fairhaven4 ,fairhaven possesses1 with ,new ,bedford1 the scalloping grounds of the ,acushnet ,river1 and in addition a much larger territory around ,sconticut ,neck and ,west ,island4 ,the scalloping territory comprises about #b1ejj acres1 most of which is unproductive or productive only at intervals4 ,the town charges #a for the license to each scalloper4 ,seventy-three licenses were issued in #aijf-jg4 ,this is a larger number than has been issued in recent years4 ,the highest number ever issued was #hj4 ,the capital invested is transitory1 for the season1 as in ,new ,bedford1 usually lasts only three weeks4 ,possibly #ad1jjj is invested in this way in boats and gear4 ,in a good season as high as #b1jjj gallons have been shipped in a week4 ,the average season hardly produces this amount in the whole three weeks4 ,in the season of #aijg-jh1 #a1cjj gallons were shipped4 ,some years ago the starfish was a source of damage to the fishery1 but of late years it has attracted little notice4 ,we find the following account of the scallop fishery of ,fairhaven written by ,a4 ,howard ,clark in #ahgi3-- ,ten boats took #b1ajj bushels of scallops in #ahhj4 ,fourteen men with #aj boats dredge for scallops from the middle of ,october to the middle of ,january4 ,great quantities are found in the ,acushnet ,river1 as well as along the western shore of the bay4 ,a small dredge1 holding about a bushel1 is used4 ,it is made with an oval-shaped iron frame1 #c feet in length4 ,wire netting is used in the front part and twine at the back4 ,small sail boats1 each with two men1 fish with from one to twelve of these dredges in tow1 sailing with just enough sheet to allow a slow headway4 ,as soon as a dredge is filled1 the men luff up1 haul in1 empty1 and go on4 ,these little boats take from #aj to #ge bushels a day4 ,if the breeze be unfavorable1 one man takes the oars while the other tends the dredges4 ,the amount of production at the present time is about the same1 or even more1 than the figures given for #ahgi4 ,in all other respects the industry has changed4 ,five times as many men now work at the business1 while more boats and capital are invested4 ,this looks as if the industry had improved4 ,the industry as regards the methods of capture has improved1 but the actual production has remained the same4 ,now the season lasts barely three weeks1 whereas twenty-five years ago with few men it lasted four months4 ,fall ,river ,district4 ,no scallop fishery exists in these waters at the present time4 ,in #ahgi1 #hjj gallons were taken from this region4 ,this furnishes an excellent illustration of the total decline of the scallop fishery in certain localities4 ,falmouth4 ,the town of ,falmouth cannot be said to support any scallop industry of importance4 ,each year in ,squeteague ,pond1 ,wild ,harbor1 ,north ,falmouth and in ,west ,falmouth harbor a few scallops can be found2 but these are used only for limited local consumption1 and usually are very scarce4 ,scallops are occasionally present in small quantities in ,waquoit ,bay4 ,harwich4 ,the scallop territory of ,harwich covers an extensive area on the south side of the town1 and in some places extends for a distance of from #b to #c miles out from shore4 ,usually the scallops are found1 as in the last season 7#aijg-jh71 outside the bar1 at a distance of #c miles from shore1 where they can be taken only by dredging from sail or power boats4 ,the intervening body of water sometimes contains a few scallops in a quantity to make a commercial fishery4 ,the total area of the scallop grounds is about #c1bjj acres4 ,the bottom is mostly sandy1 with patches of eel grass4 ,all the scallops are caught by dredging1 as the water is too deep for any other method4 ,twelve men were engaged in the fishery during the #aijg-jh season4 ,the boats1 #g in number1 consisted of #c power and #d sail2 #e were manned by #b men1 #b were sailed singly4 ,the dredges used here are the same style as the ,chatham dredge4 ,the #aijg-jh production was #b1agj gallons1 valued at #b1hdc4 ,the scallops were shipped to the ,boston and ,new ,york markets1 the greater part being shipped to ,new ,york1 at an average price of #a4cj per gallon4 ,the scallops taken in #aijg-jh were large1 opening #c quarts to the bushel4 ,,capital ,,invested4 ,value of boats1 #b1cej ,value of gear1 #bhj ,value of shore property1 #djj ------ ,total1 #c1jcj ,for the last two years there has been practically no scallop fishery4 ,the #aijd-je season was the last successful season1 when the large bed of scallops was found off ,dennis4 ,the #aijg-jh season1 however1 has been fairly good1 and it is thought that the following year may be as successful4 ,marion4 ,marion was included in the general revival of the scallop fishery which came to ,buzzards ,bay during the past season of #aijg-jh1 and for the first time in eight years has had a successful scallop season4 ,the scallop grounds of the town extend over an area of #a1ejj acres1 situated on both sides of ,great ,neck1 and extending from the ,wareham line to ,aucoot ,cove4 ,all scalloping is done by dredging4 ,the fishery can be divided into two classes3 7#a7 the boat fishery2 7#b7 the skiff fishery4 ,under the first class comes the cat boat and sloop1 carrying six dredges2 while the second class consists of the small sail skiffs1 with one dredge4 ,the skiff scalloper rows or sails1 as the wind permits1 and with his one dredge makes an average catch of #c bushels per day4 ,forty-four men1 using #af sail and power boats and #bd skiffs are engaged in the fishery4 ,the business likewise requires the services of nearly #bd openers4 ,about two-thirds of the dredges are of the scraper type1 with chain netting2 the rest sliders1 with loose blades4 ,a very few roller or lead dredges are used4 ,the production for #aijg-jh was #g1jjj gallons1 valued at #i1agj4 ,the scallops were mostly sent to the ,new ,bedford market4 ,the scallops are of two sizes3 the smaller1 which are taken in the shallow water1 open only #b quarts per bushel1 while in the deeper water the larger scallops yield about #c quarts4 ,the rest of the body of the scallop1 after the removal of the eye1 is saved for bait at ,marion1 the scalloper receiving #cj cents per bucket4 ,,capital ,,invested4 ,value of boats1 #e1cjj ,value of skiffs1 #bej ,value of gear1 #ehj ------ ,total #f1acj ,the three towns of ,marion1 ,mattapoisett and ,rochester have common fishery rights1 as all three were included in the original town of ,rochester4 ,in #aheb ,marion became an independent town1 and in #aheg ,mattapoisett was likewise separated from ,rochester4 ,until #ahic ,marion and ,mattapoisett had separate fishery rights1 ,rochester having mutual rights with both4 ,since then the fishery of these towns has been common to all three4 ,every scalloper is required to have a permit1 the boatmen paying #b1 the skiff scallopers #a1 respectively4 ,the scallop industry supplanted the waning oyster industry at ,marion some twelve years ago1 and for a time it flourished greatly4 ,the abundance of scallops and extent of the grounds furnish excellent scalloping4 ,after a few very successful years the industry suddenly died out and became practically extinct4 ,the direct cause is claimed by the scallopers to have been the starfish1 which came in the harbor in great abundance at the time of the decline of the industry4 ,up to this season but little scalloping had been done for several years1 and not a single permit was issued for the season of #aijf-jg4 ,mashpee4 ,the scallop territory of ,mashpee lies in the ,popponesset ,river and ,bay1 comprising at most #bjj acres4 ,for the last six years there has been no scallop industry in the town4 ,a few scallops are occasionally taken for home consumption4 ,mattapoisett4 ,the scallop territory of ,mattapoisett1 comprising an area of #a1bjj acres1 much of which is open and exposed1 is in general confined to the following localities3 ,nasketucket ,bay1 ,brant ,bay1 ,brant ,island ,cove1 ,mattapoisett harbor1 ,pine ,neck ,cove and ,aucoot ,cove4 ,the location and extent of these grounds are indicated on ,map #h4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #bb ,number of boats3-- ,sail1 #ac ,power1 #f ------ ,total1 #ai ,boats1 how manned3-- ,single1 #af ,double1 #c ,dredging is the only method of scalloping used in ,mattapoisett4 ,small cat boats and a few power boats are employed in the fishery4 ,the roller dredge is the most popular style with the ,mattapoisett scallopers1 who claim that on the uneven bottom this dredge is the most successful4 ,this town is the only locality in the ,state where this kind of dredge is used4 ,the cost of a dredge completely rigged with rope1 which is often #ae fathoms long1 is #d4ej1 and #h to #aj dredges are used for each boat4 ,during the #aijg-jh season the production was #e1jjj gallons1 valued at #f1eej4 ,these were mostly marketed at ,new ,bedford1 where they were purchased unsoaked by the ,new ,bedford ,fish ,company4 ,at the first part of the season it was not uncommon for a boat to catch #be bushels per day1 but as the season progressed the size of the catch gradually diminished4 ,the scallops were large1 opening #c quarts to the bushel4 ,,capital ,,invested4 ,value of boats1 #f1ijj ,value of gear1 #gfj ------ ,total1 #g1ffj ,the scallop industry at ,mattapoisett1 though once important1 was extinct for several years4 ,the present season has shown a revival1 and the industry has again assumed a commercial value4 ,nantucket4 ,nantucket is one of the leading towns of the ,state in the scallop fishery4 ,the grounds lie both in ,nantucket harbor and in ,maddequet harbor on the west end of the island4 ,the former of these is the larger and more important1 as the fishery is near the town4 ,when the scallops become scarce in ,nantucket harbor1 the scallopers adjourn to the fresher beds of ,maddequet4 ,nantucket harbor contains approximately #c1jjj acres of scallop territory2 ,maddequet and ,muskeget1 #a1ejj acres4 ,practically all the scalloping is done by dredging from sail boats1 employing about #ii men in the fishery4 ,the dredges are of the slider and the scraper types1 the iron frames of which cost #a4ej and the netting bags #cj cents4 ,from #f to #aj of these are used per boat1 and are dragged by #g fathoms of #ae-thread rope4 ,five regular openers are hired1 who receive from #bj to #be cents per gallon1 according to the size of the scallops4 ,a few scallops are taken in the shallow water by the dory fishermen with pushers1 which are locally known as scoops4 ,these differ from the ,cape ,cod pusher1 being more rounded and smaller in size4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of boats3-- ,power1 #aj ,sail1 #cg ,dories1 #bj ,boats1 how manned3-- ,single1 #ae ,double1 #cb ,single dories1 #bj ,in #aijf-jg the production was #i1hbj gallons1 valued at #ab1hge4 ,price #aijg-jh4ad ,gallons4 per ,gallon4 ,value4 ---------------------------------------- ---------- ,october1 #b1fci #a4be #c1bih4ge ,november1 #d1afj #a4jj #d1afj4jj ,december1 #e1dcj #a4jj #e1dcj4jj ,january1 #e1iaj #a4ej #h1hfe4jj ,february #ifj #b4jj #a1ibj4jj ,march1 #a1adf #b4ej #b1hfe4jj -------------------------------- ,total1 #bj1bde #a4ca #bf1ech4ge ,shipments were made by express to ,new ,york and ,boston1 the charges to ,new ,york being #ie cents1 to ,boston #ee cents per keg4 ,the greater part was shipped to ,new ,york market4 ,the scallops were shipped mostly in #g-;gallon kegs1 which cost #cc cents apiece4 ,about #cj ,new ,york and #bj ,boston firms receive shipments from the ,nantucket scallopers4 ,two kinds of scallops1 the large channel and the small or eel grass1 are obtained4 ,the small scallops are more numerous than the large1 but are naturally less desirable4 ,,capital ,,invested4 ,value of power boats1 #d1jjj ,value of sail boats1 #i1bej ,value of dories1 #ejj ,value of gear1 #gjj ------ ,total1 #ad1dej ,of late years the scallopers have taken an interest in protecting the scallop4 ,many scallopers when fishing in shallow water cull out the small seed scallops1 and1 instead of returning them to the shallow water1 transplant them to the deep water of the channel1 where they are not only protected in case of severe winter1 but produce a larger scallop the following year4 ,this is the only attempt at protecting the scallop ever made in ,massachusetts1 and shows how important the industry is to the town4 ,for the two seasons previous to #aijg-jh every scalloper was required to have a license4 ,in #aije-jf the price was #ej cents1 while the following year1 #aijf-jg1 #aij licenses1 costing #a each1 were taken out4 ,no licenses were required in #aijg-jh4 ,special by-laws1 either limiting the catch or enforcing a close season to meet the demands of the fishery1 are made by the town each year4 ,scallops have been always plentiful1 but fifty-five years ago they were not caught1 as they were considered poisonous4 ,the present industry started in #ahhc1 and since that time1 in spite of its ups and downs1 it has remained a constant source of revenue to the island4 ,notwithstanding a scarcity of scallops1 the high prices of #aije-jf enabled the fishermen to have a fairly successful season4 ,both the #aijf-jg and the #aijg-jh seasons have been very prosperous1 as scallops have been plentiful4 ,new ,bedford4 ,the scallop industry at ,new ,bedford has been in existence since about #ahgj1 and has furnished a livelihood for an average of #ae men ever since4 ,of late years the industry has shown a marked decline4 ,in #ahgi ,a4 ,howard ,clark says3-- ,scallops are plentiful in the ,acushnet ,river1 and large quantities are taken with dredges from ,october through the winter4 ,the business of late years has greatly increased4 ,about the same time ,ernest ,ingersoll also writes3-- ,in the ,acushnet ,river and all along the western shore of ,buzzards ,bay these little mollusks abound1 and their catching has come to be of considerable importance in that locality4 ,mr4 ,w4 ,a4 ,wilcox1 who sends me notes on the subject1 says that it is only eighteen years ago that a fisherman of ,fairhaven 7opposite ,new ,bedford7 was unable to sell #e gallons that he had caught4 ,but the taste has been acquired1 and a local market has grown up to important proportions1 so that in #ahhj #ad men and #aj small boats 7dories7 were dredging for scallops in ,buzzards ,bay from the middle of ,october to the middle of ,january4 ,mr4 ,wilcox says3 ,these small boats will take from #aj to #ge bushels a day4 ,these men are not willing to work every day1 however1 since the tautog and other fishing calls their attention1 and there is danger of overstocking the market4 ,it therefore happens that the total catch reported for both ,new ,bedford and ,fairhaven men will not exceed #f1djj gallons1 valued at #c1hfd1 #fj cents being a fair price in this and the ,boston market4 ,the value of the investment devoted to this business at ,fairhaven is about #abj4 ,the scallop industry of #aijg cannot be compared with that of former years4 ,the amount of scallops taken is not one-third of the former production4 ,more men are engaged in the business than twenty-five years ago1 but the beds are raked clean in a shorter time4 ,the annual yield has sadly fallen off1 in spite of improved methods of capture and increased number of fishermen4 ,this decline cannot here be attributed to either of the natural enemies of the scallop1 as neither the starfish nor oyster drill are abundant4 ,severe climatic conditions and overfishing by man are the direct causes of this decline4 ,the scallop area of ,new ,bedford comprises approximately #djj acres1 principally in the ,acushnet ,river and in ,clark's ,cove4 ,in #aijf-jg1 #ch licenses were issued by the city for scalloping4 ,this is a marked decrease over former years4 ,probably not all these men fish regularly4 ,in the last few years the season has been rather short1 lasting between three and four weeks1 as the scallops were practically all caught in that time4 ,the capital required for the business1 consisting of cat boats1 skiffs1 dredges1 shanties1 etc41 amounts to about #e1fjj2 but this is merely transient1 and is only employed for three or four weeks1 and then devoted to other fisheries4 ,,annual ,,production4 ,,year4 ,bushels4 ,gallons4 ,value4 ------------------------------------- #aije-jf1 #a1jjj #a1jjj #c1jjj #aijf-jg1 #a1bjj #a1bjj #c1jjj #aijg-jh1 #gjj #gjj #iag ,all scalloping is done by dredging from either cat boats or dories4 ,since #ahgi improvements have been made1 and cat boats instead of dories1 each manned by one man with six dredges1 now do the work once wholly performed1 as ,ingersoll says1 by dories4 ,all the scalloping takes place in deep water4 ,when the law of #aije made the ,acushnet ,river and ,clark's ,cove forbidden shellfish territory1 because of the sewage pollution of the harbor1 the capture of scallops in season was still allowed4 ,this was based on the principle that there is no danger in eating the clean eye of the scallop1 although as a matter of fact there is actual danger of typhoid infection to those handling anything from sewage-polluted waters4 ,the following notes were made ,nov4 #ba1 #aije1 upon the fishery of that year3-- ,at the opening of the season a bed of scallops was discovered just outside the harbor beyond the light4 ,twenty-five boats set to work immediately1 but there was not a sufficient supply of scallops to keep them long employed1 and one by one they dropped out1 until by ,november #ba only two or three boats were still engaged in the fishery4 ,the scallops of this year were of large size1 #b to #b inches1 and turned out a gallon of eyes per bushel1--an excellent yield1 as the average scallops only shuck out #b to #c quarts to a bushel of shells4 ,if a man could obtain a gallon per day by ,november #ba he was lucky1 and owing to the high retail price1 he made a fair day's wages4 ,orleans4 ,on the flats about to #a mile from the west shore scallops are occasionally found4 ,six years ago there was a fairly good season1 but since that time there have been very few scallops1 and these are taken only for home consumption4 ,provincetown4 ,scallops are obtained on the flats in the east bend of the harbor toward the ,truro shore1 where they are blown by a southwest wind4 ,evidently there must be a bed of scallops in the deep water from which the scallops are washed on the flats4 ,in #aije-jf from #b to #f men were engaged in picking up these scallops and retailing them for home trade4 ,about #ahid or #ahie scallops were numerous1 and it was not uncommon for a man to pick up #e bushels on the flats at one tide4 ,since #aijj but few scallops have been found4 ,tisbury4 ,the scalloping grounds of ,tisbury are in the harbor at ,vineyard ,haven4 ,only ,vineyard ,haven fishermen make a business of scalloping here4 ,the scallop grounds comprise an area of #hjj acres4 ,most of the scallops are obtained by dredging from cat boats1 which are nearly all equipped with power4 ,with two exceptions the boats are singly manned4 ,fourteen men go in #h boats1 using from six to eight dredges per boat4 ,six men scallop in skiffs1 using one dredge4 ,the dredges are similar to those used at ,edgartown4 ,during the season of #aijg-jh1 #c1jjj gallons of scallops1 valued at #c1icj were captured4 ,the fishermen ship chiefly to the ,new ,york market4 ,the scallops are of an exceptionally large size1 opening1 it is said1 #d quarts to the bushel4 ,the proportionate size of the eye to the shell is much greater than with the ordinary scallop4 ,,capital ,,invested4 ,value of boats1 #c1jjj ,value of skiffs1 #ij ,value of gear1 #cjj ------ ,total1 #c1cij ,no licenses or permits are required for scalloping4 ,the last season 7#aijg-jh7 is the second season that scallops have been abundant in this locality4 ,wareham4 ,situated at the head of ,buzzards ,bay1 the town of ,wareham possesses a considerable water area which is suitable for scallops4 ,the entire territory1 embracing approximately #b1ejj acres1 extends in a southwesterly direction from ,peter's ,neck1 including ,onset ,bay1 to ,abiel's ,buoy and from there to ,weweantit ,river4 ,scallops are also found in the ,wareham ,river4 ,scallops are mostly found in the deeper water1 which makes dredging the only profitable method of scalloping in this locality4 ,scalloping is practically all done by dredging either from sail or power boats1 only #c power boats being in use during the #aijg-jh season4 ,three men from the village of ,wareham use pushers1 but the yield from this style of fishing is very small4 ,the style of dredge in most common use is the scraper4 ,this year the price paid for the frame of the dredge is #c4ej4 ,these dredges have the blade set downward firmly1 and have a chain bottom of iron rings4 ,the usual number per boat is eight1 but at ,onset any number from four to fourteen are used1 according to the size of the boat and the individual choice of the scalloper4 ,nearly all the boats are cat boats1 averaging in value about #cjj4 ,about #cj regular openers have been engaged off and on by the scallopers4 ,when the catch was large at the first of the season more openers were engaged1--often as many as #c to a scalloper4 ,one-tenth of the number are women4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of scallopers1 #de ,number of boats3-- ,power1 #c ,sail1 #cc ------ ,total1 #cf ,the quantity of scallops taken during #aijg-jh was approximately #aj1jjj bushels1 valued at #ac1ajj4 ,during ,october the catch was about #ae bushels per day for the average scalloper1 but later became considerably less4 ,the greater part of the scallops were sold to the ,new ,bedford ,fish ,company1 the representatives of which bought them unsoaked from the fishermen4 ,certain of the fishermen1 however1 preferred to ship their catch to the ,boston and ,new ,york markets4 ,,capital ,,invested4 ,value of boats1 #aj1hjj ,value of gear1 #a1cjj ,value of shore property1 #g1jjj ------ ,total1 #ai1ajj ,no permits were issued in #aijg-jh4 ,previous to this year1 permits were required from every scalloper4 ,wareham has a fish committee1 the duty of which is to enforce the fish laws4 ,the first scalloping started in ,wareham in #ahgi1 when several boats from ,new ,bedford commenced dredging in ,wareham waters4 ,from that time the industry rapidly developed1 until it assumed considerable importance as a winter occupation4 ,since #ahii the industry has been practically dead until the present season of #aijg-jh4 ,the ,wareham scallopers to a man attribute this decline to the inroads of the destructive starfish4 ,while the scallops have been so exterminated that no profitable fishery has been conducted the last seven years1 they have not been wholly extinct1 as a few could be found each year4 ,lately the number has been increasing1 until in #aijg-jh the season was very profitable4 ,in connection with this it is said that the starfish were less numerous than usual4 ,the prospects of another good season in #aijh-ji are excellent1 as seed scallops are said to be plentiful in many places1 especially in the deep water1 which furnishes protection in case of a severe winter4 ,wellfleet4 ,at the present time in ,wellfleet ,bay there is no commercial scallop fishery1 although scattering scallops are found in various parts of the harbor4 ,yarmouth4 ,the scallop grounds of ,yarmouth are on the south side of the town1 on the flats which border the shore from ,bass ,river to ,lewis ,bay4 ,part of the waters of ,lewis ,bay belong to the town of ,yarmouth1 and scallops are found over all this territory4 ,the nature of the bottom is the same as at ,dennis and ,barnstable4 ,the total area of scallop territory is estimated at #b1bej acres4 ,the scallop grounds of ,dennis are open to ,yarmouth scallopers4 ,both dredges and pushers are employed in the scallop fishery of the town4 ,the method depends upon the location of the scallops1 whether in shallow or deep water1 as well as the means of the individual scallopers4 ,both the ,chatham dredge and the scraper are used4 ,forty-one men were engaged in the #aijg-jh fishery1 using #ae boats and ten dories4 ,the production for #aijg-jh was #h1jjj gallons1 valued at #aj1dhj4 ,scallops were shipped to ,new ,york and ,boston markets4 ,,capital ,,invested4 ,value of boats1 #c1gej ,value of dories1 #bjj ,value of gear1 #dge ------ ,total1 #d1dbe ,the same laws as were quoted for ,dennis1 the two towns having common fishery rights4 ,the #aijd-je season was prosperous1 as ,yarmouth scallopers had the privilege of scalloping in the large bed off ,dennis4 ,the two following years were very poor1 and even the last season has not been up to the average4 ,,footnotes3 #aj ,e4 ,ingersoll1 ,the ,scallop ,fishery1 ,united ,states ,fish ,commission report1 #ahha4 #aa ,united ,states ,department of ,agriculture1 ,farmers' ,bulletin #he1 #ahih4 #ab ,statistics taken from the ,united ,states ,fish ,commission reports4 #ac ,licenses4 #ad ,return of ,special ,agent ,william ,c4 ,dunham4 ,,oyster 7,ostrea ,virginiana74 ,introduction4 ,,resolves ,,of #aije1 ,,chapter #gc4 ,resolved1 ,that the commissioners on fisheries and game are hereby authorized and directed to make a biological investigation and report as to the best methods1 conditions and localities for the propagation of oysters under the conditions found in ,massachusetts waters4 ,the commissioners may expend for the purposes of this resolve a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars a year for a period of three years4 ,as authorized by the above act1 the ,commissioners on ,fisheries and ,game have conducted experiments of a biological nature upon the oyster4 ,at the start of the investigations1 for a proper understanding of the various conditions in the different localities1 it was necessary to make a survey of the oyster industry of the ,state4 ,recently this survey has been supplemented by sending printed questions to the oystermen1 and the whole put in the form of a report1 which gives an account of the industry4 ,this first report on the oyster is merely a broad survey of the whole industry of the ,state1 and is preliminary to future reports of a more scientific character4 ,the ,need of a ,survey4--,in #ahgi ,mr4 ,ernest ,ingersoll1 in his ,monograph on the ,oyster1#ae gave an excellent account of the oyster industry of ,massachusetts4 ,since that time no complete account1 either statistical or biological1 has been written4 ,meanwhile1 the oyster industry of the ,state1 owing to its steady improvement1 has changed in the past twenty-eight years1 and what was true of #ahgi is not true of #aijg4 ,not only have localities changed and new areas been opened up1 but also the whole industry has expanded through the enterprise and business ability of the oystermen1 and to-day ,massachusetts possesses an oyster fishery which more than doubles the production of #ahgi4 ,thus a survey of this fishery1 by comparison with that of #ahgi1 shows the changes that have taken place1 and gives some idea of the growth of the industry4 ,it is hoped that this report will furnish sufficient data to give actual knowledge of the conditions of oyster culture in the ,state1 show the success of this industry1 and indicate what is essential for its future improvement4 ,it is necessary1 in view of the conflict between the quahaug and oyster fisheries1 that the public understand the exact situation1 and this is possible only through a published account of each industry4 ,scope of the ,report4--,the object of the report is to furnish information which will be of value both to the oysterman and to the consumer4 ,primarily the report is for the oysterman1 showing the extent of the industry in his own locality and in other parts of the coast1 where perhaps he is unacquainted with the conditions4 ,while exact facts are presented for the benefit of the oysterman1 this report at the same time tries to give a general description of the industry for the consumer1 who perhaps knows nothing of the oyster except as an article of food4 ,the first part of the report has been arranged under the following headings3 7#a7 the natural oyster beds2 7#b7 results of the survey2 7#c7 history of the industry2 7#d7 the oyster laws2 7#e7 the oyster industry2 7#f7 general statistics4 ,the second part considers separately the industry of each town or section4 ,methods of ,work4--,the statistical figures for the oyster industry are reasonably complete as the oyster fishery is on a more systematic business basis than any of the other shellfisheries4 ,nevertheless1 on certain points it was impossible to obtain absolutely correct information1 as1 for instance1 the area of grants1 since no survey is made of the grants when leased1 and the oysterman himself does not know the exact area of his granted territory4 ,thus an estimate has to be made by each oysterman of his granted area1 and1 while this is approximately correct1 it cannot be considered as absolutely true4 ,the statistical returns were compiled by sending to each oysterman in the ,state a blank form1 containing a series of questions1 with the request that he would co-operate with the commission by answering4 ,many oystermen responded with complete answers1 thus permitting the commission1 through their aid1 to publish an extended report on the oyster fishery4 ,however1 it was found impossible to obtain complete information from several towns1 as a number of oystermen neglected to return these blanks4 ,the return of each oysterman is filed at the office of the ,commission on ,fisheries and ,game1 and only the total for each town is published1 thus treating as confidential the private business of individuals4 ,the commission expresses a most cordial acknowledgment to the oystermen for their co-operation in this matter4 ,the other parts of the report were obtained by personal inspection of the oyster beds as to their biological conditions1 by means of town records1 and interviews with the oystermen4 ,town records1 which should have given the location1 number and areas of the grants1 proved nearly worthless in most cases1 owing to incompleteness1 loss and confusion4 ,owing to the frequent change in selectmen1 little if any information could be obtained from this source1 as the new selectmen were generally unacquainted with the work of their predecessors concerning the leasing of oyster grants4 ,the grants were often incompletely described1 bounds uncertain and the acreage unknown4 ,the interviews with the individual oystermen furnished more and better information both in regard to the present condition of the industry and the general history for each town4 ,personal inspection of the oyster grounds was made1 the biological conditions noted and the area of the grants plotted on the accompanying maps4 ,not all these grants are worked1 and parts of the cultivated grants are unfit for oyster raising4 ,the charted area includes all grants1 cultivated or uncultivated4 ,in reviewing the history of the industry1 information was obtained from town records1 oystermen who had been in the business for years1 and various newspapers and periodicals4 ,for a comparison of the oyster industry of #ahgi and #aijg the excellent report of ,mr4 ,ernest ,ingersoll upon the ,oyster ,industry1 published in the tenth census of the ,united ,states1 was used for comparison1 and in many places directly quoted4 ,were it not for this work and the report of ,a4 ,howard ,clark on the ,fisheries of ,massachusetts1 it would have been impossible to draw any reliable comparison with the oyster industry of twenty-eight years ago4 ,massachusetts as an ,oyster ,state4--,massachusetts is perhaps not so well adapted for oyster culture as it is for clam or quahaug farming1 and does not equal other seacoast ,states in the extent of its oyster industry4 ,nevertheless1 the oyster industry is on a much firmer footing than the other shellfisheries1 and is an important adjunct to the wealth of the southern ,massachusetts towns4 ,all the oyster grants1 except in the towns of ,wellfleet1 ,eastham and ,orleans1 are found south of ,cape ,cod1 as the southern shore of ,massachusetts alone is adapted for the oyster industry4 ,along the south side of ,cape ,cod and in ,buzzards ,bay the numerous inlets and estuaries afford with their brackish water excellent ground for the cultivation of this bivalve1 and many acres which otherwise would be barren have been made productive through the grant system2 while the shores of ,massachusetts which adjoin the waters of ,narragansett ,bay possess1 in the ,taunton1 ,cole and ,lee's rivers1 excellent waters for the growth of seed oysters4 ,thus ,massachusetts possesses good facilities for oyster culture1 which are capable of a far greater expansion than present conditions indicate4 ,however well developed the oyster industry is at present1 there is plenty of room for improvement4 ,it is the consensus of opinion among the oystermen that the business is developing every year1--a fact that speaks well for its future4 ,improvements in the oyster industry can arise in three ways3 7#a7 investment of more capital in the business1 which will allow more extensive operations2 7#b7 more intensive cultivation of the present grounds2 7#c7 the opening of new areas for oyster culture and the utilization of waters at present useless4 ,everything indicates that the oyster industry will take advantage of opportunities as soon as they are given4 ,the ,oyster ,grant ,system4--,oyster culture in ,massachusetts is the logical result of the failure of the natural oyster beds4 ,when these beds became destitute of oysters through overfishing1 it was necessary that means should be used to perpetuate the stock4 ,oyster planting had been successfully carried on in the ,states south of ,massachusetts1 and it was merely a question of experiment whether the oyster would respond to the same methods in ,massachusetts4 ,thus oyster culture arose in this ,state at first as an experiment1 later as an established industry4 ,grants were given1 as through this way only could oyster planting become a success1 and the free fishery people were forced to bow to public opinion1 which decreed that grants should be leased4 ,thus oyster grants arose from necessity1 as in no other way could ,massachusetts preserve her oyster supply4 ,the system of oyster grants and oyster culture1 in spite of its many failings1 has shown what can be done to preserve and increase a natural shellfish industry if the proper methods are used4 ,planted beds have furnished enough spawn to maintain the natural beds1 which would have long ago been depleted through the inroads of overfishing4 ,they have preserved a fishery which would have disappeared almost completely1 and established a better and more extensive industry1 not only benefiting the oystermen1 but also those indirectly associated with the business1 such as teamsters1 transportation companies1 etc4 ,in the following report various abuses of the present system of oyster culture will be enumerated1 and it is only necessary to state that many evils must be eliminated before the oyster industry can obtain its maximum expansion4 ,such evils as town politics1 disputes with quahaugers1 etc41 will have to be remedied4 ,the greatest obstacle which now checks the oyster industry is the lack of protection4 ,until complete protection is given to the oysterman1 the industry will never attain to its full development4 ,the removal of the abuses by the organization of the oyster industry of the ,state under a unified system is the best way to secure proper regulation and improvement of the oyster industry4 ,the ,natural ,oyster ,beds4 ,while there has been much discussion whether oysters were ever native in ,massachusetts ,bay1 or merely the result of southern plants1 the consensus of opinion is that there were natural oyster beds in existence when the first settlers came to this coast4 ,not only do historical records show this1 but the remains of the natural beds at the present time indicate that oysters have existed for centuries4 ,thus there seems to be no reasonable doubt that the northern coast of ,massachusetts1 as well as the southern1 once possessed extensive natural oyster beds4 ,i4 ,location of the ,natural ,oyster ,beds4--7#a7 ,parker ,river4--,a natural bed of oysters once existed in the ,parker ,river at ,newbury1 and even fifty years ago it is said that oysters could still be obtained from this natural bed4 ,about #ahhb the experiment of fattening oysters for market was made1 and many bushels were bedded on the flats during the summer by an oyster firm at ,newbury4 ,these oysters not only grew well1 but threw considerable spawn1 furnishing a good set in the river4 ,oyster raising was then tried1 but the result was a failure1 as the oysters which were planted in too shallow water were killed during the winter4 7#b7 ,mystic and ,charles ,rivers4--,mr4 ,ernest ,ingersoll states that3 ,in #afcd ,william ,wood1 in his ',new ,england's ,prospect1' speaks of 'a great oyster bank' in ,charles ,river1 and another in the ',mysticke1' each of which obstructed the navigation of its river4 ,he locates the ,charles ,river beds as either off ,cambridgeport or near the site of the ,boston ,museum of ,natural ,history4 ,dr4 ,g4 ,w4 ,field1 chairman of this department1 in his report in #aijb as biologist to the ,charles ,river ,dam ,commission1 makes the following statement about the ,charles ,river oyster3-- ,the oyster 7,ostrea71 formerly abundant1 is no longer living1 and1 from what indications ,i have been able to gather1 probably became extinct within twenty-five years4 ,their dead shells are brought up by dredging operations4 ,their peculiar elongated shape is the result of growth being concentrated at the upper end1 as a result of their closely crowded position in the bed1 or of an attempt to keep the opening above the accumulating mud1 and thus avoid being smothered4 ,the fact that there are few signs of small seed oysters tends to prove that the bottom was so muddy that they found few places to set4 ,from the elongated shape of the shells may be inferred that the amount of sedimentation going on in that particular region was rapid during the life of the group of oysters whose shells are to be found in quantities in the material dredged between ,harvard and ,brookline bridges4 ,this sediment need not necessarily have been sand or clay1 or any material which is persistent1 but it might have been flocculent organic dbris1 which remained but a short time and left little or no evidence1 beyond its effect upon the shape of the oyster shells4 ,in the above account ,dr4 ,field not only locates the original oyster beds of ,charles ,river1 but also furnishes evidence which indicates the cause of their extinction1 i4e41 the dbris and sewage1 or waste poisonous1 polluting materials1 of a large city emptying into the river4 ,this is not only true of the ,charles1 but also of the ,mystic and ,taunton river beds1 which have been destroyed in like manner4 7#c7 ,mr4 ,ernest ,ingersoll1 in his report on the ,oyster ,industry of the ,united ,states1 in #ahhj mentions that natural oyster beds were once at ,weymouth1 ,ipswich1 ,barnstable and ,rowley4 ,nothing further can be learned concerning these places4 7#d7 ,wellfleet4--,an extensive oyster bed was found at ,wellfleet ,bay1 which not only furnished a sufficient supply for the first settlers1 but enabled the inhabitants of ,wellfleet to carry on a considerable trade by shipping them to ,boston and other ports1 until it was finally destroyed in #agge4 ,its destruction was due to overfishing and the utilization of the shells for lime1 which soon destroyed the natural bar4 7#e7 ,chatham4--,a natural oyster bed once existed in the ,oyster ,pond1 but no trace of it now remains4 7#f7 ,harwich4--,herring ,river in the town of ,harwich still possesses the remnants of a natural oyster bed1 as occasionally a few oysters can be gathered along its banks4 ,this bed once comprised a stretch of three-quarters of a mile along the river4 7#g7 ,yarmouth4--,the town of ,yarmouth once possessed a natural oyster bed in ,mill ,creek1 but this was fished out by #ahie and then granted for oyster culture4 7#h7 ,barnstable4--,there is a natural oyster bed at ,centerville4 7#i7 ,martha's ,vineyard4--,native oysters are said to have existed in the brackish ponds on the south side of the island2 a few are found there at the present time4 7#aj7 ,falmouth4--,a few native oysters are to be found in the salt ponds on the south coast of the town4 ,in ,squeteague ,pond and ,wild ,harbor oysters were once native4 ,buzzards ,bay comprises the best natural oyster territory in the ,state4 ,at the present time the natural oyster industry has been supplanted by oyster culture1 which gradually took the place of the declining natural oyster fishery4 ,while natural beds still exist to some extent1 they are1 to all practical purposes1 extinct4 ,where once there were extensive areas1 now there are only scattering oysters4 ,in many cases the beds have been so completely destroyed that the ground has been granted for oyster culture4 ,that ,buzzards ,bay is a natural set area can be readily seen by the amount of seed oysters that are caught by the oystermen who plant shells for the purpose4 7#aa7 ,bourne4--7a7 ,red ,brook ,harbor4--,in #ahgi ,ernest ,ingersoll says3-- ,on the southern shore of this harbor1 about a mile from its head1 exists a living bed of natural oysters some #g acres in extent1 under the protection of the town for public benefit4 ,the oysters growing on it are reported to be large1 but not of extraordinary size1 scalloped and roundish1 differing in no respect from aged oysters grown after transplanting to another part of the bay4 ,in #aijg this natural bed had been reduced to #c acres1 and the unproductive part granted4 7b7 ,barlow ,river4--,in #ahgc an act was passed to protect the oyster fishery in ,barlow ,river1 by ordering a closed season of one and one-half years4 ,the passage of this act shows that a natural bed of importance existed in this river1 and that even in #ahgc the effects of overfishing were apparent4 ,at the present time there are but few native oysters in ,barlow ,river1 or1 as it is sometimes called1 ,pocasset ,river4 7c7 ,monument ,river4--,a natural bed also existed in ,monument ,river1 which became so depleted that about #ahge the river was surveyed and divided into small grants4 7#ab7 ,wareham4--7a7 ,wareham ,river4--,natural oysters are found in the ,wareham or ,agawam ,river1 which has been one of the most productive natural beds in the ,state1 and still furnishes a scant living for two or three men4 ,in view of the overfishing1 it is surprising that any of the natural oysters have survived1 except on reserved areas of the town1 which are opened every three or seven years for the capture of seed4 7b7 ,weweantit ,river4--,the ,weweantit ,river1 which lies between the towns of ,wareham and ,marion1 has a larger and better natural oyster bed than the ,wareham ,river1 but this has also been depleted by overfishing1 except on the reserved areas of the town of ,wareham4 7#ac7 ,dartmouth4--,a few oysters are found in ,slocum's ,river4 7#ad7 ,westport4--,westport ,river has also a few oysters4 7#ae7 ,taunton ,river1 ,coles ,river and ,lee's ,river4--,these rivers once had extensive beds of natural oysters1 but now are wholly devoted to growing oysters4 ,old records and laws show how important these natural beds were1 and also furnish an excellent illustration of the effects of overfishing combined with water pollution from manufacturing sources4 ,,ii4 ,decline of the ,natural ,oyster ,beds4--,the above-mentioned examples furnish abundant proof that the natural oyster beds of the ,state1 which once were sufficient to supply the wants of our forefathers1 have declined to such an extent that at the present time but few natural oysters are tonged for the market4 ,where there were formerly many acres of excellent native oysters1 to-day there is scarcely an acre that can be called good oyster fishing1 except in a few cases where the towns maintain a nearly perpetual closed season4 ,no proof of the decline is necessary2 it is an established fact4 ,there have been two principal causes which have ruined the natural oyster beds2 besides these two1--7#a7 water pollution and 7#b7 overfishing1--certain geographical changes have doubtless occurred1 which have accelerated the decline4 7#a7 ,water ,pollution4--,the effect of water pollution through the sediment deposited by sewage and manufacturing waste on the natural oyster beds is well illustrated by the destruction of the ,charles ,river beds4 ,this is also shown in a less degree in the ,taunton ,river4 7#b7 ,overfishing4--,the primary cause of the decline of the natural oyster beds was overfishing4 ,this is particularly true of the beds south of ,cape ,cod and in ,buzzards ,bay1 which were of large extent1 and unpolluted by manufacturing wastes or sewage4 ,this overfishing has not been the result of the last few years1 since records show that as early as #ahbd ,harwich passed an act to preserve the oyster fishery of the town2 and that ,sandwich1 in the part which is now the town of ,bourne1 in #ahcb passed regulations protecting the natural oyster fishery in ,monument ,river2 while at ,wellfleet the natural oyster bed was completely exterminated by the year #agge4 ,overfishing has affected the natural beds in several ways1 all of which have worked toward the general decline of the native oyster4 7a7 ,the first settlers took the large oysters from the natural beds1 which under normal conditions had all they could do to keep up the supply4 ,in this way the beds were deprived of the spawning oysters1 with the result that in spite of the closed seasons1 which gave little if any benefit1 a gradual decline set in4 7b7 ,at the same time that the oysters were being taken from the beds1 the early oystermen through ignorance were making an economic blunder by not returning the shells to the waters4 ,the oyster shells furnish naturally the best surfaces for the collection of seed1 as spat will set only on clean surfaces4 ,by taking the large oysters and with them the shells and other dbris from the bed1 the natural oyster bars were destroyed and less space given for the spat to catch4 ,so both the taking of the large oysters in excessive amounts and the destruction of the natural spat collectors1 either for lime1 as was done at ,wellfleet1 or for other purposes1 were sufficient in the early days to cause the decline of the natural oyster beds4 7c7 ,in more recent times the destruction of the natural beds has been hastened by the taking of the small oysters4 ,this practice was due to two reasons3 7#a7 the supply of large oysters was exhausted2 7#b7 oyster culture became important1 and the natural beds were raked clean for seed which the oystermen obtained for planting on their grants4 ,thus the oyster grant system has been the chief cause of the destruction of the natural beds in the last forty years4 ,it was only when the natural beds failed that grants were given1 and so oyster culture cannot be considered the primary cause of the destruction of the natural beds1 but only a later agency in their total extermination4 ,the natural beds in ,buzzards ,bay all bear testimony to these three means of overfishing1 and in recent years particularly to the last4 ,it has been a most fortunate thing for ,massachusetts that the oyster grant system was inaugurated as soon as the decline of the natural fishery became manifest1 else at the present time there would be no oysters in the ,state1 for it is recognized that the present natural beds are perpetuated by the spawn which comes from the various oyster grants4 ,foresight has indeed provided an excellent oyster industry1 which is rapidly improving4 ,it is only necessary to apply similar methods of culture to the other shellfish industries of the ,state to insure their future also2 otherwise the decline1 which is following the same steps as the destruction of the natural oyster beds1 will lead to the commercial extinction of these valuable fisheries4 ,results of the ,survey4 ,the survey of the oyster industry has shown several interesting facts which should be brought to the attention of the fishermen and consumers4 ,in the first place1 it has shown that the oyster fishery is a larger and more important industry than it has been commonly considered1 and that the welfare of the shore fisheries of southern ,massachusetts depends upon its maintenance4 ,secondly1 the oyster industry is to-day in a position where it cannot reach its full development for the reason merely that the present laws do not encourage the expansion of the industry4 ,thirdly1 the oyster industry is trammeled by certain abuses1 chiefly of a legal nature1 which hinder its development1 and upon the abolition of which depends its future success4 ,fourthly1 the oyster industry under present conditions encroaches to some extent upon the other shellfish rights1 especially in relation to the quahaug fishery1 and has caused much jealous feeling2 but if properly regulated there should be room for both industries4 ,in order to obtain the opinion of the oystermen concerning the present abuses of the oyster industry1 and how these could be best remedied1 the following question was asked of the individual planters3 ,what measures or laws would1 in your opinion1 be best adapted for the improvement of the oyster industry8 ,although many neglected to answer this question1 forty-three opinions were offered1 dealing with the problems which the oystermen consider as needing attention and upon which the welfare of the industry depends4 ,these answers have been arranged in tabular form1 showing the number of oystermen who advocate certain measures4 ,,measures ,,suggested4 ,present laws satisfactory1 #aa ,direct ,state control of oyster industry1 #aa ,town control1 with right of appeal to the department of fisheries and game1 #a ,longer length of lease1 #d ,more certainty of re-leasing grants if improved1 #g ,more protection for industry1 #d ,right to grow all kinds of shellfish1 #a ,more ground for cultivation1 #a ,state to forbid marketing of oysters from contaminated waters1 #a ,provision for destruction of starfish1 #b ------ ,total1 #dc ,while these answers show a diversity of ideas1 about #ge per cent4 urge that something be done to improve the present system1 and1 while many are in favor of placing the industry under ,state control1 the majority is definitely of the opinion that the present system of town control is proving a serious drawback to the oyster industry4 ,the best interests of the oysterman and the consumer demand a better method of regulation of this industry4 ,as long as town politics1 partiality and carelessness enter into the leasing of oyster grants1 and thus deprive certain people of their rights1 it is safe to say that the oyster industry can never get beyond its present state of development4 ,one solution of the difficulty might be full ,state control of leasing the grounds for the oyster industry4 ,this is possibly too radical a step at present1 and the system can perhaps be so adjusted as to remedy its defects without taking the control of the fishery entirely away from the hands of the town4 ,another solution is to continue the system of town control1 but to have a ,state commission which would act as a board of appeal for all who felt aggrieved at the judgment of the selectmen4 ,the advisability of ten-year grants has caused much comment among the oystermen4 ,practically all grants are now given for this period of time4 ,as a system it is deservedly unpopular1 since it does not help the quahaug interest1 and it checks the development of the oyster industry4 ,the oyster business1 unlike the other branches of shellfish culture1 requires a considerable capital4 ,this system of ten-year grants operates directly to discourage the outlay of capital4 ,if the oysterman were sure of reaping the benefits of his labor and capital1 it would be to his selfish interest to develop his own grant to its maximum capacity4 ,but what far-sighted business man will invest money in a business which stands a good chance of being completely wiped out in a few years8 ,again1 this system makes three years out of the ten practically worthless4 ,the oysterman usually seeds his grant about three years before he expects to reap his harvest2 but when his grant has run for seven years1 it is evident that he will plant no more oysters because of the uncertainty of obtaining a second lease1 and naturally does not desire to invest his labor and money for the benefit of an unknown successor4 ,the remedy for this is not difficult4 ,if a grant were rented annually as long as the planter desired to hold it1 to be forfeited if not improved to a certain standard 7to be decided upon71 or for non-payment of rent1 the difficulties above enumerated would disappear4 ,much of the territory now held unimproved would either be brought up to a standard of excellence or given over to the quahaugers1 and in either case direct benefits would result4 ,if legislation were so arranged that any man might take1 by the payment of a nominal rent1 a small piece of ground1 which he could hold as long as he improved it1 the oyster industry could be put on a firmer footing2 a man confident of enjoying the fruits of his labors could thus improve his grant1 and1 as he acquired skill and knowledge1 could add other land and ultimately expect to build up a successful business4 ,a third important suggestion relates to the marketing of oysters in a sanitary condition4 ,the oyster industry of the ,state has suffered severely because of the scare resulting from the marketing of oysters from contaminated waters4 ,the ,cape and ,buzzards ,bay oysters are in general free from all sewage contamination1 and should not be considered on the same basis as the impure varieties from outside the ,state4 ,naturally1 the ,massachusetts oystermen desire that there be some guarantee for the purity of the oysters marketed1 as their interests suffer because this impure stock is often sold under the name of the ,cape oyster4 ,if laws were passed requiring the inspection and certification of marketed oysters in regard to healthful conditions under which they have been produced1 both the oyster planter and the consumer would be benefited4 ,there is but little doubt that the oyster industry can be still further developed by opening waste territory which at this time does not appear available1 since under existing conditions proper capital cannot be induced to enter the business4 ,the oyster industry demands more attention than it has hitherto received1 and must be considered an important asset of the ,commonwealth4 ,history of the ,industry4 ,although the oyster laws are the mile-stones which mark the progress of the oyster industry1 and any consideration of the development of these laws naturally gives many historical features1 it is nevertheless necessary1 at the risk of repetition1 to give a separate account of the history of the oyster fishery4 ,the ,massachusetts oyster fishery can be divided historically into three distinct periods3 7#a7 the free fishing period2 7#b7 the period of bedding southern oysters2 7#c7 the period of oyster grants4 7#a7 ,the ,free ,native ,fishery 7#afbj-ahdj74--;,in the early colonial days the oyster fishery was considered in the same way as the other shellfisheries are now looked upon1 i4e41 held to be the common property of the inhabitants of the ,commonwealth4 ,the natural supply was abundant enough to meet the needs of all the inhabitants1 and for many years no signs of decline were manifest4 ,in #agge the natural beds of ,wellfleet gave out1 furnishing the first record of unmistakable decline4 ,from that time there arose an extensive series of protective laws1 with the one object of preserving the natural supply by limiting the demand4 ,this policy of protective laws1 though perhaps temporarily beneficial1 was based on an erroneous principle4 ,it was preventive1 but not constructive1 and did not build up the demolished fishery4 7#b7 ,oyster ,bedding 7#ahdj-gj74--,with the decline of the natural beds1 the practice of bedding southern plants became an important part of the oyster trade4 ,the southern oysters were bedded on the flats in the spring and taken up for market in the fall4 ,salem1 ,wellfleet and ,boston were the leading places in this new phase of the oyster industry1 and many thousand bushels were annually planted4 7#c7 ,oyster ,grants 7#ahgj-aijh74--,so successful was this summer bedding of southern oysters that experiments were soon made in rearing oysters4 ,this proved successful from the start1 and within a few years the extensive grant system which is now in vogue was inaugurated on ,cape ,cod and ,buzzards ,bay4 ,these three methods1 although separated by definite periods in which each have been the leaders1 remain to a greater or less extent at the present day4 ,the natural beds are still in existence1 and1 as at ,wareham1 are opened once in three or seven years1 according to the discretion of the selectmen1 for catching seed4 ,the summer bedding of oysters still continues1 as certain planters find it more profitable to fatten than to grow oysters1 and the oyster grant system is now in full operation4 ,a comparison of the industry of #aijg with that of #ahgi shows several changes4 ,these changes are for the most part improvements which have arisen with the development of the industry4 ,in some cases the changes have been detrimental1 and a few localities have shown a decline4 ,new fields have opened to the oysterman both in new localities and through the extension of the present beds4 ,on the whole1 there has been a great increase in the grant system of oyster culture1 while the bedding of southern plants1 which in #ahgi employed many men1 boats and extensive capital1 has practically disappeared4 ,the annual production has increased gradually1 and for #aijf-jg is approximately five times as large as in #ahgi4 ,the following figures1 except for #aijg1 are taken from the ,united ,states ,fish ,commission's reports1 and show the gradual increase in production3-- ,,year4 ,bushels4 ,value4 --------------------------- #ahgi1 #cf1jjj #da1hjj #ahhg1 #dc1ahc #fd1aae #ahhh1 #de1fca #ff1dec #ahih1 #aja1bbe #aef1bce #aijb1 #ajc1chf #acc1fhb #aijg1af #afa1ahb #agf1adb ,the ,oyster ,laws4 ,in submitting a complete report upon the oyster industry1 the oyster laws1 which have played an important part in the development of the fishery1 cannot be totally neglected4 ,however1 so important a subject demands separate investigation1 and offers excellent opportunities for legal research4 ,therefore it is not the purpose of this report to give more than a brief account of the present oyster laws and their history4 ,the shellfish laws of ,massachusetts constitute the foundation of the oyster industry1 as they have taken a practically extinct native fishery and have built up the present extensive business4 ,so closely are they connected with its welfare that the future of this growing industry depends upon the proper expansion of these laws to meet the new conditions4 ,a survey of these oyster laws1 with an analysis of their merits and defects1 is needed4 ,their defects have brought about the present unsatisfactory situation in certain localities1 and should be remedied4 ,their merits should be strengthened and amplified1 as the basis of future expansion4 ,they have come into being from time to time1 in response to the immediate need of the hour2 consequently they have no unity1 and are1 indeed1 but imperfectly understood4 ,an insight into their perplexing details should bring out many inconsistencies4 ,again1 no comprehensive knowledge of the history of the industry is possible without a study of the laws4 ,the errors once committed need not be repeated to further embarrass the industry1 and the lessons learned by experience would be well applied to its future development4 ,protective and ,constructive ,laws4--,the oyster laws can be divided into two classes3 7#a7 protective2 and 7#b7 constructive4 ,the early laws1 which were passed to save the natural supply1 were of the first class2 while the laws establishing the present system of oyster culture come under the second heading4 ,the beginnings of all legislative enactment arose in the treatment of the natural oyster beds4 ,these beds were fast becoming exhausted1 when laws were passed to protect their important natural resources4 ,this measure was only partially successful4 ,it did succeed in preserving the remnant of those old beds from destruction1 but it was powerless to build up an industry of any extent4 ,when it became clearly evident that no possible fostering of native resources could supply the growing demands of the market1 legislation quite logically directed itself toward the artificial propagation of oysters4 ,from this step arose a series of problems which long proved baffling1 and still engross a great deal of public attention4 ,the artificial propagation of oysters necessitated the leasing of grants in tidal waters4 ,this giving up of public property to private individuals aroused the opposition of rival shellfish industries1 who saw in this measure a curtailment of their resources4 ,numerous other difficulties of minor significance arose from time to time1 all demanding attention at the hands of the ,legislature4 ,apart from the general supervision of the oyster industry1 there have been two other sources of legislative enactment4 ,first1 special laws have been called for to regulate the fishery in certain waters under the oversight of the ,state ,board of ,health4 ,secondly1 during the past few years the attention of the ,legislature has been directed towards the development of the oyster fishery as an important asset of the ,commonwealth1 and laws authorizing various experiments1 both scientific and practical1 have been passed in order to devise methods of increasing and developing the industry4 ,i4 ,protective ,laws4--,the history of the oyster laws of ,massachusetts is a history of the industry itself4 ,the rise and decline of the fishery are distinctly traceable in the development of the legal machinery which regulates it4 ,from the time of the ,pilgrims the oyster beds of the coast had been regarded as inexhaustible mines4 ,the fallacy of this view gradually became apparent1 as these beds began to be depleted through overfishing4 ,as early as #agif a general law1 entitled ,an act to prevent the destruction of oysters and other shellfish1 was passed by the ,legislature4 ,prior to #ahfi the town of ,harwich adopted this old law4 ,shortly after1 ,swansea followed suit1 and restricted the exploitation of her native oyster beds in the ,lee and ,cole rivers4 ,in #ahgj ,wellfleet inaugurated an innovation1 in the nature of a permit to take oysters1 which was required of all citizens of the town4 ,the idea of this permit was to regulate the fishery1 centralize control in the hands of the selectmen and add to the income of the town4 ,in #ahgc ,sandwich passed a law enforcing a close season on all her native beds1 to last for a period of one year4 ,in #ahge ,brewster followed the lead of ,wellfleet1 in demanding permits of all outsiders and also from all citizens taking more than #c bushels at any one time1 although an unlimited amount might be taken for food4 ,the aim of all this legislation was not to develop the industry directly1 but indirectly by preserving and fostering the native beds4 ,this theory1 while excellent in motive1 did not work out well1 as the native beds could not by any possible protection be brought to produce an annual yield at all adequate to the growing demands of the market4 ,the utilization of purely natural resources proving unequal to the demands of the occasion1 the creation of other resources became necessary1 and an entirely new epoch in the history of the oyster fishery was inaugurated4 ,this epoch marked the beginning of the production of oysters by artificial means1 and the establishment of this new industry and the perplexing complications which grew out of it have been the source of legislative strife for many years4 ,,ii4 ,constructive ,laws4--,the first legislation authorizing the present system of oyster culture was instituted at ,swansea1 in #ahfi4 ,this was the beginning and the foundation of a broad movement of oyster culture which spread rapidly along the southern coast of the ,state4 ,this curious law allowed the selectmen to sell1 by public or private sale1 the oyster privilege of ,swansea outright to any person or persons who were citizens of the town4 ,the measure1 although apparently designed to restrict the exhaustion of the native resources1 did not tend to develop the industry4 ,it possessed one element of value1 i4e41 it increased the revenue of the town4 ,apart from its interest as the forerunner of artificial propagation of oysters1 this old law is noteworthy1 as it forms the basis of the system which to-day regulates the industry in that section of the country4 ,the custom of selling an extensive oyster privilege1 as apart from the system of leasing grants1 first clearly outlined in the law of #ahfi1 still holds throughout this section4 ,it remains the usual custom to sell either the whole of a township's available oyster territory1 or else an extensive part of it1 to one man for a lump sum per year4 ,in #ahgd an important step occurred in the evolution of the oyster industry4 ,swansea and ,somerset were given the privilege of granting any of their bays1 shores1 banks and creeks for the propagation of oysters4 ,this act was far more sweeping and advanced than any of its predecessors1 but it was in one respect too sweeping4 ,it interfered with the rights of the property owners along the shore1 and was therefore contrary to the general underlying principle of the ,state law1 which allows the cultivation of oysters only in so far as such cultivation does not interfere with the vested rights of all citizens alike4 ,the measure proved untenable1 and was promptly repealed4 ,its repeal was on general principles a thing to be desired1 but nevertheless a blow to the industry4 ,the tidal waters along the coast have always been the most valuable part of the oyster territory1 as they have proved to be the best adapted for obtaining oyster set4 ,this measure was therefore designed to aid the oyster growers1 and give them valuable privileges which belonged originally to the adjoining property owners4 ,even to the present day the dividing line between the rights of property owners and oystermen has remained an unsettled question4 ,it was about this time that the close season proved a failure in ,buzzards ,bay1 and the towns of ,wareham1 ,bourne and ,marion turned their attention toward the establishment of an oyster industry4 ,this attempt became a settled policy of these towns about #ahge4 ,in #ahgh a peculiar act was passed1 making it unlawful for any person to remove oysters from any grant1 even his own1 between the hours of sunset and sunrise4 ,this act was necessary for the protection of the oyster planters1 by preventing the stealing of oysters from the grant at night4 ,various efforts had been made to protect grants from such attacks1 but the extreme difficulty of detection was always an insuperable obstacle to proper enforcement1 and it was deemed expedient to prohibit all fishing at night4 ,that this problem had become an important one is shown by the title of the law1 which was styled ,an act for the better protection of the oyster fisheries in this commonwealth4 ,in #ahhd an important act was passed1 enlarging the limits of that territory which might lawfully be used for the cultivation of oysters4 ,practically all communal waters outside the jurisdiction of adjacent land owners was thrown open for oyster grants4 ,in #ahhe the institution of a public hearing was inaugurated4 ,this was a concession to the hostile quahaug element1 and allowed the public the opportunity of protesting against the granting of territory for oyster culture2 nevertheless1 the final power really remained in the hands of the selectmen4 ,a further concession to this element was the law which called for the revoking of grants within two years if unimproved4 ,the interests of the oystermen were also kept in sight1 and legislation passed which was designed to protect grants still more from the depredations of outsiders4 ,provision was likewise made for the proper enforcement of these laws1 and the penalties attached were increased4 ,in #ahhf an act was passed which was designed to do away with all possible outside monopoly4 ,the danger of organized capital acquiring control of a large tract and excluding small individual planters had become apparent1 and this means was taken to guard against it4 ,the act prohibited the transfer of grants in any township to any person not a citizen of that township2 thus1 if any monopoly did exist it would be restricted to only one township4 ,the limits during which fishing on grants might be carried on was lengthened two hours1 so that it read from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset4 ,in #ahib the town of ,yarmouth obtained a law requiring a permit for citizens to take oysters from native beds1 not exceeding #b bushels per week1 from ,september #a to ,june #a4 ,this is now the only town in the ,commonwealth to require such a permit from citizens4 ,in #ahie legislation was passed relative to the proper definition of the boundaries of grants4 ,this was rendered necessary because of the haphazard methods hitherto pursued in giving grants with very indefinite boundaries4 ,mean low-water mark was fixed as the shoreward boundary of grants1 while mean high-water mark was defined as the limit to which shells might be placed to catch the set4 ,this1 however1 was dependent upon the owners of the adjacent property1 and their consent was held necessary before this territory between high and low water could thus be utilized4 ,in #aija special legislation was passed1 restricting the catching of oysters in contaminated waters except for bait4 ,in #aijd authority was granted to proper officials to develop the oyster industry by planting shellfish1 or by close season4 ,in #aije the ,fish and ,game ,commission was authorized to expend a sum not exceeding #ejj per annum for the investigation of the oyster1 by experiment or otherwise1 with a view to developing the industry4 ,the development of the oyster laws has been by a process of evolution4 ,they have kept pace with the growth of the industry1 and have been in fact the logical outcome of that expansion4 ,the various acts which go to make up the bulk of this legislation have been passed from time to time to fill the immediate demands of the hour1 and consequently lack that unity and consistency which might otherwise characterize them4 ,changing conditions have called for alterations in the legal machinery1 as the industry has expanded1 to meet new requirements4 ,these additions have frequently been dictated by short-sighted policy1 and the ,commonwealth as a whole has often been lost sight of in the welfare of the community4 ,of all the shellfisheries1 the oyster industry is most hampered by unwise legislation4 ,it is the most difficult to handle1 because it presents many perplexing phases from which the others are free4 ,clams1 quahaugs and scallops flourish in their respective territories1 and legislation merely tends to regulate their exploitation or marketing4 ,with the oyster1 however1 other problems have arisen4 ,the areas in the ,state where oysters grow naturally are few in number and relatively of small importance4 ,the clam1 quahaug and scallop grounds are to be compared with wild pastures and meadows1 which yield their harvests without cultivation2 while the oyster grants are gardens1 which must be planted and carefully tended4 ,with this distinction arises another question1 of far-reaching significance1--the question of private ownership4 ,the quahaug1 clam and scallop fisheries demand that the tidal flats and waters be held in common as communal interests1 and freely open to all citizens of the town2 the oyster fishery requires that certain portions of these flats and waters be set aside for private ownership4 ,with the economic questions involved in this discussion it is not the purpose of this report to deal4 ,there is one fact1 in any case1 which cannot be argued away4 ,the oyster industry is dependent solely upon private ownership of grants4 ,if1 therefore1 the oyster industry is to be encouraged at all1--and it certainly has very great possibilities1--this fact of private ownership must be accepted at once4 ,if1 as some assert1 it is an evil1 it is a necessary evil1 and it has come to stay4 ,the questions remaining for legislation on this subject are the proper regulation of this private ownership1 so as to give the maximum of encouragement to the oyster fishery1 and the minimum of danger to the rival shellfish industries4 ,the oyster and quahaug industries openly clash4 ,this is an unfortunate occurrence1 but it cannot be avoided1 since the ground suitable for the culture of oysters is almost always the natural home of the quahaug4 ,therefore1 when portions of this ground are given out to private individuals for the production of oysters1 the available quahaug territory is necessarily reduced4 ,over this question endless disputes have arisen4 ,the problem is undoubtedly one requiring delicate adjustment2 but there is no reason why these two industries should not flourish side by side1 as there would be plenty of room for both if all the available territory were properly utilized4 ,there is one important feature of this problem1 however1 which the present laws have wholly failed to recognize4 ,wherever practicable1 the best of the quahaug territory should not be granted2 and as far as possible1 the oystermen should utilize only those tracts of territory which are not naturally very productive of quahaugs4 ,the ,oyster ,industry4 ,for the benefit of those who perhaps are not familiar with the methods employed in the oyster industry1 the following brief account is given3-- ,i4 ,selecting the ,grant4--,the oysterman1 in selecting a grant1 has to consider first the nature of the soil2 and secondly1 the location as influencing the growth of the oyster4 ,not less important is the quality of the oyster1 which means not only a good price1 but also readiness of sale1 as the oysters produced in certain localities are especially desirable in appearance and flavor4 ,as the oyster will not grow on all kinds of bottom1 but demands a firm soil1 free from soft mud and shifting sand1 the oyster area of the ,state is naturally limited4 ,usually but part of an oysterman's grant is suitable for the cultivation of oysters1 and he is forced to let the rest of the territory lie idle1 unless he can1 with shells or gravel1 artificially change this waste area into suitable ground4 ,shifting sand perhaps can never be made suitable for oysters2 but many acres of soft mud can be made productive1 if the oysterman only has a reasonable guarantee that he would receive the results of his labor4 ,while the oyster culture is limited by the nature of the bottom1 it is also restricted by other conditions4 ,the salinity of the water has much to do with the rapidity of growth1 and the oysters seem to thrive in localities where a slight amount of fresh water enters4 ,the amount of food in the water is the principal factor in the rate of growth1 and to this is due the fact that the rate of growth varies considerably in different localities4 ,as a rule1 the beds with good circulation of water 7i4e41 currents7 show the more rapid growth4 ,,ii4 ,collecting the ,seed4--,the term seed is applied to one1 two1 three and even four year old oysters which the oystermen plant on their grants4 ,these grants are in reality salt-water gardens1 requiring constant supervision2 and the obtaining of the seed for planting is a most important consideration4 ,the gathering of the oyster seed is a simple process1 but one which requires much research4 ,early in the summer1 usually during the months of ,june and ,july in these waters1 the ,massachusetts oyster spawns4 ,both sperm from the adult male and the eggs from the adult female oysters are extruded in considerable quantities into the water1 and there the eggs are fertilized4 ,as fertilization is somewhat a matter of accident1 undoubtedly the great majority of eggs never develop4 ,the fertilized eggs pass rapidly through various changes in the course of a few hours1 and emerge as microscopic embryos1 with thin1 transparent coverings4 ,at this period these forms are free swimming1 and are found in great numbers in the water4 ,they are extremely delicate1 and great quantities are destroyed by natural agencies1 such as cold storms1 sudden changes in temperature1 etc4 ,they likewise are subject to the depredations of all sorts of marine creatures1 and comparatively few in proportion survive4 ,the survivors1 after leading this free-swimming existence for several days1 settle to the bottom1 where they attach themselves by a calcareous fixative to stones1 shells1 pieces of wood1 etc4 ,here1 unless buried by silt and soft mud or killed by exposure1 poisonous pollution1 etc41 the young oyster rapidly becomes of a size suitable for planting4 ,the economic utilization of this scientific knowledge is as follows3 shells offer a very good surface for the attachment of the young oyster1 and many thousand bushels are annually strewn over the bottom previous to the spawning season4 ,considerable judgment is needed in choosing the right time to plant these shells1 which after a few weeks in the water become so coated with slime that fixation of the spat becomes impossible4 ,in ,massachusetts the area between high and low water mark has been found by experiment to be the most valuable territory for this purpose1 as shells planted here collect the heaviest set and can be handled with the least expense4 ,a projecting sand bar or point with a current is also well adapted for catching oyster spat4 ,the scallop shell is the most serviceable in spat collecting1 because it is more brittle1 and the clusters of oysters when attached are readily broken apart4 ,after the oysterman has obtained a successful set1 he allows the young oysters to obtain a suitable growth before he makes a final planting1 either in the spring or fall4 ,,iii4 ,size of the ,seed used for ,planting4--,while many oysters are raised from native spat in the ,buzzards ,bay district1 the greater part of the seed is purchased in ,connecticut and ,long ,island1 and is carried in schooners or steamers to ,massachusetts waters4 ,the usual price ranges from #ce cents to #a per bushel1 according to size and quality4 ,the oystermen cannot always choose the size of seed they desire for planting1 as the set of any one year is very uncertain1 and several seasons may pass before a large quantity of seed can be obtained4 ,thus the oyster planters are forced to take whatever size they can obtain1 whether it be two1 three or four year old seed4 ,as a rule1 the small seed is most in demand1 as it means relatively faster growth and less money invested4 ,often1 when the ground is most favorable for fattening1 large oysters are preferred for planting1 and certain oystermen make this line of work a specialty4 ,certain localities where there is plenty of lime in the water are well adapted for growth1 and yet produce poor-meated oysters1 while in other grounds the reverse is true4 ,the oystermen occasionally by a double transfer utilize both grounds1 planting oyster seed for the first few years in the rapid-growing localities1 and then transplanting the large oysters to the fattening ground six months before marketing4 ,,iv4 ,preparing the ,grant4--,the first step in preparing the grant is to remove all dbris4 ,in the deep water1 this is usually done by dredging2 in the shallow water1 by whatever means is the easiest4 ,if the bottom is of firm soil1 the grant is then ready for planting2 however1 if the soil is soft mud1 it is necessary to shell the bottom in order to give it greater firmness4 ,the oysterman continually has to keep a sharp lookout in order to protect his grant from enemies such as the starfish and the oyster drill1 and to keep it clear of seaweed and other matter which would interfere with the growth of the oyster4 ,v4 ,sowing the ,seed4--,the seed oysters are planted on the prepared bed by scattering them with shovels or scoops from the boats and scows4 ,the oysterman1 knowing the maximum amount of seed the bed will grow to the best advantage1 plants the required number1 taking care that the oysters are properly scattered1 as for the best growth oysters should lie separate and not in crowded masses4 ,the amount of seed that can be planted on a given area depends upon the natural conditions of the locality4 ,,vi4 ,enemies4--,the oyster1 having passed through the countless dangers of his embryonic career1 is still harassed by several enemies4 ,of these1 the most destructive is the starfish4 ,this animal1 commonly known as the five-finger1 occurs along the entire ,massachusetts coast1 and is especially abundant in ,buzzards ,bay4 ,occasionally whole oyster beds are wiped out by this pest1 which sweeps over the ground in vast armies4 ,the method of attack of the starfish is unique4 ,by exerting with its tube feet a steady pull in opposite directions on both valves of the shell of the victim1 the starfish tires the contracted muscle of the oyster1 and the shells open4 ,the starfish then extrudes its stomach so as to enwrap the prey1 and in this curious manner devours the oyster4 ,a close second to the starfish in amount of damage is the oyster drill or borer 7,urosalpinx cinerea74 ,this little mollusk with its rasping tongue drills a small hole through the shell of the oyster1 and then sucks out the contents4 ,a third enemy1 according to the oyster planters1 is the winkle 7,fulgur carica and ,f4 caniculatus74 ,the method of attack is somewhat obscure4 ,besides this dangerous trio of living enemies1 the oyster is subject to constant peril from inanimate agencies4 ,probably the greatest of these is shifting bottom4 ,where oysters are grown on sandy soil1 the violent waves of winter storms frequently tear up the bottom1 or else the force of currents is such as to kill the oysters by completely burying them in the sand4 ,again1 if the oysters are growing in very muddy bottom they are constantly liable to be smothered in the slimy ooze4 ,ice in winter frequently tears oysters from their beds and bears them to some unfavorable environment1 where they soon die4 ,,vii4 ,harvesting the ,oysters4--,the oysterman completes his planting about ,june #a4 ,during the summer months1 the growing period of the oyster1 the grants remain idle except for the care and supervision of the oystermen4 ,as the oyster takes from three to five years to attain its growth1 the oysterman practically harvests but one-fourth to one-third of his entire stock each year1 beginning about ,september #a and continuing through the winter as the weather permits4 ,in winter the oysterman1 to keep up the market supply1 beds culled oysters near the shore1 where he can tong them through the ice whenever it is impossible to obtain oysters from his grant4 ,the implements used in gathering the oyster harvest are of three kinds3 tongs1 dredges and rakes4 ,tongs are employed principally by the smaller oyster growers1 and on ground where the water is comparatively shallow4 ,a pair of tongs is really a pair of long-handled rakes1 fastened together like a pair of shears4 ,the pole1 corresponding to the blade of the shears1 varies from #h to #af feet in length4 ,the rakes1 some #b to #b feet broad1 are so fitted to the end of the poles that when extended by spreading the handles they rest upon the bottom parallel to each other4 ,these tongs are usually worked from skiffs or flat-bottomed boats1 the oystermen first separating the tips of the handles and then bringing them together1 thus causing a corresponding movement of the two rakes1 which with their #b-;inch iron teeth gather in all the intervening oysters4 ,the tongs with their burden of oysters are then lifted into the boat1 emptied1 and the process repeated4 ,dredging is a much faster and less laborious method of oystering than tonging1 and can be carried on over a much larger territory4 ,the oyster dredge consists of a bag of woven iron rings attached to an iron framework4 ,from each corner of the framework iron rods extend1 converging at a point some feet away4 ,at this point the rope is attached1 by which the dredge is dragged from either a sail or power boat4 ,the blade1 resting horizontally on the surface1 is armed with teeth which rake the oysters into the bag4 ,when this bag1 which holds from #c to #h bushels1 is full1 the dredge is raised1 usually by a windlass worked by steam1 gasolene or hand power1 as the case may be1 its contents dumped out and the dredge lowered for another haul4 ,rakes1 the third implement in general use1 are not employed as extensively as tongs or dredges1 but are used in still water1 where the bottom is suitable4 ,,viii4 ,marketing4--,the catch as soon as it is dredged or tonged is brought in boats to the oyster houses1 where men with hatchets or similar implements break apart the clustered oysters and cast aside the empty shells1 bits of rock1 etc4 ,three different varieties of marketable oysters are usually sorted out1 according to size3 7#a7 large1 7#b7 medium and 7#c7 small4 ,the respective sizes vary somewhat with the locality1 demands of the market and the season2 but the large oysters commonly count about #ijj to the barrel1 the medium #a1jjj or more1 while the small run #a1bjj or over4 ,the different sizes as they are sorted out are packed in barrels and are then ready for shipment4 ,the principal markets are of course ,new ,york and ,boston1 though the demand farther inland is increasing1 and shipments to ,chicago or places even farther west are frequently made4 ,general ,statistics4 ,the following facts concerning the oyster industry have been compiled from the written statements of the different oystermen4 ,complete returns have not been received from ,wareham1 ,barnstable1 and ,falmouth1 while possibly a few oystermen in the other towns have been overlooked4 ,falmouth raises but few oysters for the market and these returns have been recorded1 the remaining oystermen merely planting for their own use4 ,in the towns of ,barnstable and ,wareham about four-fifths of the oystermen have made returns4 ,the facts given in the following tables are based only on the returns at hand1 and therefore do not give a complete report for these two towns4 ,,statistical ,,summary4 ,,number ,,of ,,area ,,of ,,worked ,,grants ,,town4 ,,grants4 7,,acres74 ,number ---------------------------------------- -------------------of ,men4 ,total4,worked4,total4,suitable4,unsuita ble4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------- ,wellfleet1 #ce #bc #ifg #haj #aeg #ad ,chatham1 #ba #ba #fe #ee #aj #bj ,dennis-,yarmouth1 #d #b #aj #aj - #c ,barnstable1 #bi #bi #ahh #aba #fg #cc ,falmouth1 #bb #f #dd #bc #ba #e ,bourne1 #ace #db #ajj #hc #ag #ba ,wareham1 #abe #gj #aif #aei #cg #bf ,fall ,river district1 #ad #ad #haj #eaj #cjj #cf ,nantucket1 #b #a #bj #c #ag #a ---------------------------------------- ------ ,total1 #chg #bjh #b1djj #a1ggd #fbf #aei ,,capital ,,invested4 ,,town4 ,boats4 ,implements4 ,shore ,bedded ,total4 ,property4 ,oysters4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------- ,wellfleet1 #aj1aae #ege #a1bjj #ai1ejj #ca1cij ,chatham1 #a1fie #cac #a1bbe #bc1cjj #bf1ecc ,dennis-,yarmouth1 #be #ej #ajj #e1jjj #e1age ,barnstable1 #e1bfi #a1aci #d1cjj #bh1hej #ci1eeh ,falmouth1 #a1ebe #aje #a1jjj #dej #c1jhj ,bourne1 #e1eae #dhc #aej #ah1cjj #bd1ddh ,wareham1 #i1cee #a1abj #b1dbj #bg1gbe #dj1fbj ,fall ,river district1 #ai1hdj #b1jjj #f1bjj #fh1ejj #if1edj ,nantucket1 #eah #ae #be #hjj #a1ceh ---------------------------------------- ---------- ,total1 #ec1heg #e1hjj #af1fbj #aib1dbe #bfh1gjb ,,production ,,of #aijf-jg4 ,,marketable ,,oysters4 ,,seed ,,oysters4 ,total ,,town4 ------------------------------------ ,value4 ,bushels4 ,value4 ,bushels4 ,value4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------------- ,wellfleet1 #bb1ejj #bd1hej #a1jjj #a1jjj #be1hej ,chatham1 #ad1eej #bc1ihg - - #bc1ihg ,dennis-,yarmouth1 #a1jjj #a1ejj - - #a1ejj ,barnstable1 #be1hej #dh1jej #ajj #ajj #dh1aej ,falmouth1 #c1jab #f1jbe - - #f1jbe ,bourne1 #b1ajj #d1ajj #bc1jjj #ae1jjj #ai1ajj ,wareham1 #g1ggj #ab1gij #bb1ajj #ab1jij #bd1hhj ,fall ,river district1 #ch1jjj #bf1bej - - #bf1bej ,nantucket1 #bjj #djj - - #djj ---------------------------------------- ------- ,total1 #aad1ihb #adg1ieb #df1bjj #bh1aij #agf1adb ,,sectional ,,arrangement ,,of ,,towns4 ,a4 ,north side of ,cape ,cod3-- #a4 ,wellfleet4 #b4 ,eastham4 #c4 ,orleans4 ,b4 ,south side of ,cape ,cod3-- #a4 ,chatham4 #b4 ,harwich4 #c4 ,dennis and ,yarmouth4 #d4 ,barnstable4 #e4 ,mashpee4 #f4 ,falmouth4 ,c4 ,buzzards ,bay3-- #a4 ,bourne4 #b4 ,wareham4 #c4 ,marion4 ,d4 ,fall ,river district4 ,e4 ,nantucket4 ,wellfleet4 ,for the past thirty years there has been an extensive oyster industry at ,wellfleet1 and many grants have been taken out in the waters of ,wellfleet ,bay1 which possesses some of the best oyster ground in the ,state4 ,in spite of the success of the past years1 the industry is declining1 indicating1 possibly1 that after #aiaj no more grants will be leased4 ,four parts of the bay are taken up by oyster grants in the vicinity of3 7#a7 ,mayo's ,beach2 7#b7 ,great ,island2 7#c7 ,indian ,neck2 7#d7 ,lieutenant's ,island4 7#a7 ,nine grants1 covering an area of #agf acres of both flats and deeper water1 extend out from ,mayo's ,beach a distance of #a1ejj feet4 ,these grants extend along shore from ,commercial ,wharf to ,egg ,island1 a distance of #c1ejj feet4 ,seven of these grants have each a shore extension of #bjj feet1 the other #b having #fjj and #a1ejj feet respectively4 ,the principal planting on these grants is done by ,d4 ,atwood ,co4 7#b7 ,on the west side of the bay1 along the shores of ,great ,island and ,beach ,hill1 there are #g grants which are now worked4 ,originally there were #ab grants in this locality1 but #e of them expired some time ago4 ,the area included in these #e grants is #ejj acres1 while the entire granted area covers #gjh acres4 ,wright ,willis1 ,r4 ,r4 ,higgins and ,l4 ,d4 ,baker have done most of the planting on these grants in the past few years4 7#c7 ,on the east side of the bay1 near ,indian ,neck1 are #e grants1 comprising #bbd acres4 ,j4 ,a4 ,stubbs does all the planting here4 ,a single grant of #aa acres of flats is held in ,duck ,creek ,cove by ,j4 ,c4 ,wiles4 ,these grants extend along the shore for #b1jjj yards and run out into the bay for #a1jjj yards4 7#d7 ,off ,lieutenant's ,island are #h grants1 comprising a total area of #a1jfb acres4 ,only #c of these1 comprising #eei acres1 are now worked4 ,joseph ,crosby of ,osterville is the principal planter on these grants4 ,from the statistical returns of the oyster planters it is found that #bc grants are now held for oyster planting1 comprising an area of #ifg acres2 #haj acres1 or #hc per cent4 of this area1 is suitable for oyster culture4 ,there is very little soft mud bottom1 only #hb acres1 while the shifting sand area is #ge acres4 ,the total area of grants ever leased at ,wellfleet comprises #b1ahb acres1 of which #a1dgc are now held4 ,the average depth of water over these grants at mean low tide is #d feet1 the extremes running from #a to #ab feet4 ,capital invested1 #ca1cij ,power boats1 #d ,value of power boats1 #i1bej ,sail boats1 #d ,value of sail boats1 #gej ,dories and skiffs1 #h ,value of dories and skiffs1 #aae ,implements3-- ,dredges1 #ad ,tongs1 #ab ,value of implements1 #ege ,value of shore property1 #a1bjj ,value of oysters on grant1 #ai1ejj ,most of the oystering is done by dredging1 two large gasolene oyster boats1 the ,cultivator and the ,marion1 being employed for this purpose4 ,tongs are also used extensively4 ,fourteen men are engaged from six to twelve months each year in the oyster business4 ,the production for #aijf-jg was #bb1ejj bushels of marketable oysters1 valued at #bd1hej2 and #a1jjj bushels of seed1 worth approximately #a1jjj4 ,most of the planted seed is obtained from ,long ,island and ,connecticut4 ,the damage from the natural enemies of the oyster is reported as very slight4 ,the ,wellfleet oyster has a peculiar salty flavor not possessed by other oysters4 ,for some trade this is preferred1 while for others it is not so desirable4 ,before marketing the extreme saltiness is sometimes removed by floating the oysters in ,duck ,creek1 where the water is less salt1 using large1 scow-like floats1 #cj by #ae feet4 ,several ,boston firms are engaged in oyster culture at ,wellfleet1 including ,d4 ,atwood ,co41 ,j4 ,a4 ,stubbs and ,r4 ,r4 ,higgins4 ,for years there has been a conflict between the quahaugers and the oystermen at ,wellfleet4 ,this is very natural1 owing to the rivalry between the two industries and the rapid rise of the quahaug fishery in the last fifteen years4 ,owing to their greater number1 the quahaugers have obtained the upper hand in town affairs1 with the result that in #aiaj1 when all the oyster leases run out1 it is said that no more will be granted1 and the oyster business of ,wellfleet will come to an end4 ,this is especially unfortunate for the town1 as there is room for both industries1 and the destruction of either one would be a great financial loss4 ,it is hoped that some means can be devised to straighten out the difficulties between the opposing factions before either industry is ruined4 ,but little oyster spat has ever been caught in ,wellfleet ,bay4 ,that oysters will set there is evidenced by the young seed caught on the piles of the wharves and on stones and rocks around the harbor4 ,it is noteworthy that at ,wellfleet the spat sets only between the tide lines1 and does not catch where water is constantly over the ground4 ,this is directly contrary to the conditions in ,long ,island ,sound1 where the set is caught in deep water4 ,e4 ,p4 ,cook and ,j4 ,a4 ,stubbs have tried spat collecting in ,herring ,river for several years1 with the results of one or two good sets1 the best being caught by ,mr4 ,cook in #aijf4 ,the other years have proved failures in this line4 ,there is no question but that oyster spat can be profitably caught if sufficient interest is taken in the matter4 ,the early laws were as follows3-- ,in #aggb a law having been enacted by the ,general ,court1 regulating the taking of oysters in ,billingsgate ,bay1 an amendment to that act was now asked by the town1 namely1 that during the summer months oysters shall not be taken to market1 nor fished by the inhabitants of the town for their own use during the months of ,july and ,august4 ,in #aggc3-- ,that1 inasmuch as the oyster fishery1 which is of great value to the town and of great advantage to the ,province1 has received detriment from persons taking young oysters1 the enactment of more stringent regulations are necessary to prevent their destruction4 ,these early laws show that the natural oyster beds were highly prized by the ,inhabitants in colonial days1 and that measures1 even then1 were necessary to prevent their extinction4 ,at the present time ,wellfleet has no other regulations than the general oyster laws of the ,commonwealth4 ,the history of the oyster industry of ,wellfleet can be divided into three periods3 7#a7 the natural oyster fishery2 7#b7 the bedding of southern oysters2 7#c7 oyster planting4 7#a7 ,the ,natural ,oyster ,beds of ,wellfleet4--,the first settlers found a natural oyster bed near ,hitchin's ,creek1 or ,silver ,spring1 in #afdd1 and it is said that oysters were very abundant at that time4 ,old shells are occasionally dredged or raked up at the present day from these beds4 ,the ,rev4 ,enoch ,pratt1 in his ,history of ,eastham1 ,wellfleet and ,orleans1 gives the following account of this early oyster industry3-- ,oysters were found in great abundance on the flats at the first settlement #afdd1 but at this time #aggj the inhabitants had so increased and such quantities were taken for consumption and for the ,boston market1 that it became necessary1 to prevent their entire destruction1 for the district to take measures to preserve and propagate them4444 ,shops and stands were opened in ,boston1 ,salem1 ,portland and other places1 where the oysters were sold in quantities to suit the purchaser4 ,in #agge all the oysters in the bay died4 ,what caused their destruction is not certainly known1 but it is supposed that as1 at this time1 a large number of blackfish died and came on shore1 where their carcasses remained1 producing a very filthy condition of the water1 it caused this mortality4 ,a more probable explanation is given by ,mr4 ,e4 ,p4 ,cook of ,wellfleet4 ,the early inhabitants1 not knowing the value of the natural shell beds for catching the spat1 greedily took every shell and burned them into lime as a fertilizer for their farms and plaster for their houses4 ,there was once a fine strip of woods near this original oyster rock1 but this was cut down1 and the sand gradually washed over the beds1 killing the young oysters4 ,to these two causes can be attributed the final destruction of the natural beds in #agge4 7#b7 ,the ,bedding of ,southern ,oysters4--,after the destruction of the natural beds1 an important industry arose in the bedding of southern oysters for northern trade4 ,privileges for bedding oysters on the flats were granted to a number of oyster firms4 ,these men hired schooners in the latter part of the winter or the early spring1 which went to the southern oyster grounds and brought back loads of oysters4 ,these oysters were spread or bedded over the leased flats of the harbor1 where they remained until the following fall1 when they were taken up for market4 ,in this way the oysters gained in size by the summer's growth1 and were fattened for market4 ,considerable trade sprang up in the carrying of oysters1 and many vessels were engaged in this traffic4 ,in #ahda ,mr4 ,gould1 the conchologist1 states that #abj men1 with #cj vessels of about #dj tons each1 were employed for three months of the year1 and brought to the town an annual revenue of #h1jjj4 ,in #ahda ,capt4 ,william ,dill is credited with bringing into ,wellfleet the first cargo from ,virginia1 which started a large trade in ,chesapeake oysters4 ,mr4 ,ernest ,ingersoll makes the following statement concerning the ,virginia trade3-- ,nevertheless1 it was not until about #ahde or #ahej that the business began to confine itself to ,virginia oysters1 and a large business to be done4 ,at its height1 about #ahej1 it is probable that more than #ajj1jjj bushels a year were laid down in the harbor2 some say #aej1jjj4444 ,the favorite ground was at the mouth of ,herring ,river4 ,the ,rev4 ,enoch ,pratt writes1 in #ahdd3-- ,the inhabitants of the town tried the experiment of bringing oysters from the south and laying them down on the flats1 which succeeded well4 ,in the course of a year they doubled their size and their quality was much improved4 ,this soon became a large business1 and a number of vessels have been employed in the spring of every year in bringing them here4 ,the number of bushels which are now #ahdd annually brought is about #fj1jjj4 ,nearly all the oyster shops and stands in ,boston1 and other cities and towns in this ,state1 are supplied from this place1 and are kept by persons belonging to the town4 ,this business affords a living for many families4 ,mr4 ,ernest ,ingersoll thus describes the decline of the oyster trade in #ahgj3-- ,the war of the rebellion1 however1 interfered somewhat with the oyster trade1 and it began to decline so far as ,wellfleet was concerned4 ,then the various dealers in northern ports1 having learned something1 began to bed near home in their own harbors1 and so saved freightage4 ,finally1 the steamers from ,norfolk and the railways entered into so serious a competition that fully ten years ago #ahgj ,wellfleet ,bay was wholly deserted by the oystermen as a bedding ground1 though her vessels still continue to carry cargoes in winter from ,virginia to ,boston1 ,portland1 ,salem1 ,portsmouth and the ,providence ,river1 to supply the active trade and fill the new beds1 which the dealers at these various ports had learned could be established at home4 ,the reader thus discovers how important a part ,wellfleet has played in the history of the oyster trade of ,new ,england4 ,a hundred thousand bushels of the bivalves once grew fat along her water front1 and thousands of dollars were dispensed to the citizens in the industry they created4 ,now #ahhj a little experimental propagation1 to the value of a few hundred dollars1 and about #f1jjj bushels of bedded oysters from ,virginia1 worth perhaps #e1jjj when sold1 form the total active business4 ,the oyster fleet1 however1 remains1 though greatly diminished1 and carrying its cargoes to ,boston1 ,portland and elsewhere1 instead of bringing them to be laid down in the home harbor4 ,it will be long before ,wellfleet1 and its neighbor1 ,provincetown1 lose the prestige of old custom as oyster carriers4 7#c7 ,oyster ,raising4--,in #ahgf the first attempt to raise oysters from seed at ,wellfleet1 is said to have been made by ,e4 ,p4 ,cook1 who obtained a grant from the town of about #cj acres1 on which were planted #ejj bushels of seed from ,somerset1 ,mass4 ,the ,oysterman of ,dec4 #bj1 #aijf1 gives the following account of oyster planting at ,wellfleet3-- ,in #ahgf our informant1 ,mr4 ,e4 ,p4 ,cook1 conceived the idea that these waters could grow seed oysters as well as fatten big stock4 ,he went to ,somerset1 ,mass41 and got a carload of #ejj bushels and planted them4 ,a few had previously been planted but with ill success4 ,the people laughed at him for dumping his good money overboard4 ,he was the first man to lease a piece of oyster ground from the ,state1 and of course had his pick1 which was #fjj feet on the shore next to the ,silver ,spring1 the original spot of the natural rocks4 ,mr4 ,cook here showed his acumen as a culturist4 ,the next spring they had made a remarkable growth1 and all had lived4 ,then there was a stampede of the fellows who laughed1 to get some ground1 too4 ,soon every inch of available ground had been taken up4 ,we mention the following who took up plats3 ,solomon ,higgins1 ,i4 ,c4 ,young1 ,benjamin ,oliver1 ,daniel ,oliver1 ,edward ,oliver1 ,cornelius ,rogers1 ,william ,smith1 ,s4 ,b4 ,rich1 ,theodore ,brown1 ,stephen ,young4 ,these men did not all plant4 ,the next year ,mr4 ,cook bought #ejj bushels more1 and now he had #a1jjj bushels on his grounds4 ,these were two-year-old plants1 and when they had laid there three years he sold these primitive beauties for #e per barrel4 ,some time after this he bought ,mr4 ,rich's plot4 ,subsequently ,mr4 ,cook sold #djj of his #fjj feet to ,r4 ,r4 ,higgins1 the founder of the famous oyster-packing house by that name4 ,this same man bought the #bjj feet of ,solomon ,higgins4 ,now this house had #fjj feet of shore ground4 ,r4 ,r4 ,higgins was the first wholesaler with capital invested in the culture of the ,cape ,cod oysters4 ,finally1 this house absorbed all the ground ,cook had4 ,eight years after this the ,wright ,willis firm came on the scene2 that period had elapsed since the first cargo of seed had been freighted here4 ,they bought the remainder of the ,solomon ,higgins grant4 ,then ,mr4 ,cook took out another grant below ,smalley's ,bar4 ,capt4 ,albert ,harding and ,capt4 ,d4 ,a4 ,newcomb took out leases4 ,in #ahib ,mr4 ,cook sold his lease to the ,d4 ,atwood ,company4 ,then ,mr4 ,cook bought the ,capt4 ,albert ,harding lease and sold the right to plant on it1 the law then not allowing the lessee to turn over the grant in toto4 ,then ,h4 ,r4 ,atwood became interested here4 ,about this time some friction between the planters and clammers existed1 but it should be remembered that the planters occupied only about #bjj of the #b1djj acres involved in this dispute4 ,then it was that ,j4 ,a4 ,stubbs came on the stage of activity1 and ,mr4 ,cook secured a lease for this wholesale concern4 ,eastham4 ,the oyster industry of ,eastham is closely associated with the ,wellfleet industry1 and practically all the business is carried on by ,wellfleet firms4 ,the grants extend along the western shore from the ,eastham-,wellfleet line south1 running out into the bay a distance of #a mile4 ,the average width of these grants is #ijj feet4 ,twenty-four grants have been given out by the selectmen1 but only #ab of these are in existence at the present time1 the others having lapsed for non-payment of dues4 7,the town charges #c for the original grant1 and #a each year thereafter74 ,the area of the grants is #hjj acres1 of which only #abe acres are under cultivation4 ,as all the business1 which is but small1 is done by ,wellfleet firms1 the statistics of the industry are included in the ,wellfleet report4 ,all the grants1 as at ,wellfleet1 expire in #aiaj4 ,orleans4 ,there are #e grants on the west coast of the town1 but practically nothing is done in the oyster business4 ,the oyster industry of ,orleans is a dead issue1 and quahaugers dig at will over all the granted territory4 ,the grants are all eight to nine years old1 and will not be renewed1 as they are said to be unconstitutional1 since the waters of ,eastham and ,orleans are common1 and the consent of ,eastham was not obtained when they were granted4 ,the real reason for not renewing them will be because they are not profitable4 ,the sand shifts on a good deal of the territory1 and where the water is too deep for shifting1 oyster culture does not seem to pay4 ,four years ago #ae1jjj bushels of two-year-old seed was sent here from ,connecticut4 ,the greater part of this seed died in transportation1 and much of the remainder was killed by the shifting sand4 ,two years ago 7#aije7 #c1jjj bushels of marketable oysters were shipped from ,orleans2 but little has been done since then4 ,no set has ever been caught here1 although spat catches readily on the rocks which lie between the tide lines4 ,chatham4 ,the oyster furnishes an important industry for the town of ,chatham1 which ranks next to ,wellfleet and ,cotuit in the production of ,cape oysters4 ,the oyster grants are all situated in ,oyster ,pond and ,oyster ,pond ,river1 covering an area of #fe acres of excellent bottom4 ,of this1 #ee acres is hard bottom2 #f acres1 soft mud2 and #d acres of coarse shifting sand4 ,the whole of ,oyster ,pond ,river and the most of the shore waters of ,oyster ,pond are taken up by grants4 ,the central part of ,oyster ,pond possesses a soft bottom1 and is therefore unsuited for oyster culture4 ,the depth of water over the grants varies from dry to #f feet at low tide4 ,records show that a natural oyster bed once existed in ,oyster ,pond1 as in #ahjb excellent oysters1 but scarce1 were reported4 ,even now old shell heaps are found1 which contain extremely large oyster shells1 and indicate that the ,indians used these oysters for food4 ,indeed1 the name1 ,oyster ,pond1 was given long before grants were issued1 and doubtless received this name because of these natural oysters4 ,no natural oysters remained in #ahgg1 when the first grants were issued to ,george ,s4 ,atwood1 ,john ,vanhise1 ,jonathan ,small1 ,stephen ,gould and ,frank ,lanpier4 ,the last three named held together one grant in ,oyster ,pond ,river2 ,atwood's grant was in ,oyster ,pond2 while ,vanhise's grant was partly in ,oyster ,pond and partly in ,stage harbor1 where oyster culture was a failure4 ,the planting was not very successful at first1 owing to a lack of proper methods4 ,these grants were issued in #ahgd for a term of twenty years4 ,the next series of grants were issued for ten years1 and in #ahic the first grants were renewed for the same length of time4 ,since the period of the twenty-year grants there have been two ten-year leases1 and the present leases will expire in #aiaa4 ,a town regulation restricts the oyster grants to the southern waters of the town1 and allows no grants to be given in the waters of ,pleasant ,bay1 where there is considerable territory which might be suitable for oyster raising4 ,as all the available territory is now taken up in ,oyster ,pond1 no more grants can be issued4 ,the method of obtaining a grant by a resident of the town is to choose the locality1 stake out the grant and report the same to the selectmen1 who will grant a license if the bounds are satisfactorily described1 and no part of another grant is included4 ,the price of the license1 which runs for a period of ten years1 is #b1 and #ej cents is charged for recording it4 ,no regular survey of the grant is made4 ,taxes are paid yearly on stock and working capital4 ,capital invested1 #bf1ecc ,power boats1 #a ,value of power boats1 #cjj ,sail boats1 #b ,value of sail boats1 #ejj ,dories and skiffs1 #h ,value of dories and skiffs1 #aje ,scows1 #ab ,value of scows1 #gij ,implements3-- ,dredges1 #aj ,tongs1 #cd ,value of implements1 #cac ,value of shore property1 #a1bbe ,value of oysters on grant1 #bc1cjj ,owing to the shallow water1 most of the work is done by tonging4 ,flat scows1 #be by #aj feet1 are generally used for this work1 as they afford excellent footing for the oysterman in tonging and plenty of room for the oysters4 ,these scows1 which have a capacity of #ajj bushels1 can be anchored by stakes or iron piping1 and definite areas covered by the tonger4 ,in the fall the oystermen make their culls on these scows4 ,chatham is the only town in ,massachusetts where scows are in general use4 ,dredging is done only to a limited extent by #c oystermen1 the others all using tongs4 ,twenty men are engaged from four to six months of the year in the oyster business at ,chatham4 ,the production for #aijf-jg was #ad1eej bushels1 valued at #bc1ihg4 ,the oyster industry has been increasing every year1 the production for #aijf-jg being one-third more than the #aije-jf output4 ,the oystermen are unanimous in saying that the oyster business of ,chatham is steadily improving4 ,no seed oysters are raised in ,chatham1 as no large set has ever been caught1 and all attempts in this line have proved unsuccessful4 ,all the seed oysters are brought from ,greenport1 ,l4 ,i4 ,these run from two to four years old1 the larger oysters being preferred4 ,as a rule1 oystermen are forced to take what they can get when they buy seed4 ,the only natural enemy which infests the ,chatham oyster is the oyster drill 7,urosalpinx cinerea74 ,the damage done by this pest is slight1 amounting to nearly #hjj annually4 ,harwich4 ,no oyster industry is now carried on in the town of ,harwich4 ,a natural oyster bed once existed in ,herring ,river1 and occasionally a few oysters can be picked up at the present time2 but the bed is practically fished out4 ,this bed once extended a distance of three-quarters of a mile in the lower part of the river4 ,in #ahbd an act was passed to prevent the wilful destruction of oysters and other shellfish in the town of ,harwich1 which shows that even as early as #ahbd the natural bed in ,herring ,river was on the verge of depletion4 ,dennis and ,yarmouth4 ,the oyster industries of ,dennis and ,yarmouth are so connected that they will have to be considered as belonging to one town4 ,four grants have been leased in the two towns1 but only #b of these are worked4 ,three grants are situated in ,bass ,river1 while the fourth1 which is not operated1 owing to the shifting sand1 lies outside ,dog ,fish ,bar4 ,the #b grants which are worked are situated in ,bass ,river1 and comprise an area of #aj acres of hard bottom1 all of which is suitable for oyster culture4 ,the ,bass ,river grants1 which are taxed at the valuation of #a1jjj apiece1 expire in #aiad4 ,mill ,creek1 in ,west ,yarmouth1 one of the most valuable shellfish areas in the town1 originally contained a natural oyster bed which extended from the mouth of the creek up for #a1jjj feet1 comprising an area of #b-a_/c acres4 ,nevertheless1 this was granted in #ahie for a period of ten years4 ,two years ago the lease expired1 and it is said that the oysters have come in again in abundance4 ,all along the south shore of the two towns seed oysters1 which have been washed out of ,mill ,creek1 can be picked up4 ,a small amount of seed is raised on the grants1 but this is not enough to furnish the requisite amount required for planting purposes1 so about #b1ejj bushels is annually brought into the town from ,oyster ,bay1 ,l4 ,i4 ,no damage is done in these waters by the natural enemies of the oyster1 as both the starfish and oyster drill are very scarce4 ,one thousand bushels of marketable oysters1 valued at #a1ejj1 were shipped in the season of #aijf-jg4 ,three men are engaged for a period of seven and one-half months in the oyster industry4 ,capital invested1 #e1age ,dories1 #b ,value of dories1 #be ,tongs1 #e ,value of implements1 #ej ,value of shore property1 #ajj ,value of bedded oysters1 #e1jjj ,the oysters are taken by tonging from dories1 as the water is comparatively shallow4 ,no dredging is done4 ,yarmouth is the only town in the ,state which requires a license for taking oysters from a natural bed4 ,barnstable4 ,barnstable is the great oyster town of the ,commonwealth1 as it has the twofold distinction of possessing the most extensive industry and producing the finest quality of oysters4 ,the causes which have brought the cultivation of oysters in this town to so flourishing a condition have been fourfold3 first1 ,barnstable has a long coast line1 much cut up by bays and rivers1 which give it a very large available area2 secondly1 this area is remarkably suited for the cultivation of oysters1 as it is for the most part hard1 clean bottom1 in comparatively shallow water and well sheltered from storms2 thirdly1 there is little damage from the enemies of the oyster1--the starfish1 winkle and drill1 fourthly1 the waters of the township are notably pure1 free from contamination1 and well adapted for the production of a rapid-growing oyster of excellent quality4 ,barnstable township contains several villages1 three of which1 ,cotuit1 ,marston's ,mills and ,osterville1 are prosperous centers of the oyster fishery4 ,hyannis1 a fourth village1 once maintained a business of this nature1 which proved unprofitable and has now practically disappeared4 ,oyster grants are scattered along the shores of ,popponesset ,river and ,bay1 in ,cotuit harbor1 ,bluff ,channel1 ,south ,bay1 ,osterville ,narrows and at ,marston's ,mills4 ,in addition1 a large but indefinite territory along the southern shore1 as indicated on the map1 is maintained as experimental grants4 ,cotuit is by far the most important center of the industry4 ,here the fishery is conducted on an extensive scale4 ,the white1 clean sandy bottom and the remarkably pure waters of the bay produce an oyster with a bright1 clear shell1 which distinguishes it from oysters grown elsewhere4 ,this ,cotuit oyster is much sought for by hotels and fancy dealers1 and is universally considered par excellence among ,massachusetts oysters4 ,barnstable1 though supporting an immense industry1 has by no means exhausted her latent resources4 ,extensive experiments to increase the productive area of the town have been carried on for the past few years4 ,a strip of territory along the southern coast1 some #d miles long and #c miles wide1 has been granted4 ,this territory is of doubtful utility1 as the bottom is largely shifting sand exposed to the full force of southerly gales4 ,these grants have hardly been in force long enough to demonstrate their possibilities1 but it is probable that a large territory may be thoroughly suitable for the future expansion of the oyster industry4 ,unfortunately1 several oystermen did not make statistical returns1 thus rendering a complete record for the ,barnstable oyster industry impossible4 ,the majority of the oystermen willingly responded1 and the present report comprises only those returns which have been sent in4 ,the total area comprised by the grants1 #bi in number1 is #ahh acres1 of which #aba acres are of hard bottom1 suitable for oyster culture4 ,there is very little shifting bottom4 ,the usual ,cotuit bottom is a clear sand1 which is especially favorable for the production of fine oysters4 ,thirty-three men are employed from six to eight months each year in the industry1 which gave in #aijf-jg a production of #be1hej bushels of marketable oysters1 valued at #dh1jej4 ,except for a small natural oyster bed at ,centerville1 no seed is caught in ,barnstable1 and is all brought from ,long ,island and ,connecticut4 ,several firms plant only large oysters1 bedding them in the spring and taking them up the following fall1 when they have acquired the ,cotuit flavor4 ,capital invested1 #ci1eeh ,power boats1 #d ,value of power boats1 #c1ijj ,sail boats1 #c ,value of sail boats1 #hjj ,dories1 #bb ,value of dories1 #dac ,scows1 #g ,value of scows1 #aef ,implements3-- ,dredges1 #bc ,tongs1 #de ,value of implements1 #a1aci ,value of shore property1 #d1cjj ,value of oysters on grant1 #bh1hej ,mashpee4 ,the oyster industry of ,mashpee is rather limited4 ,five grants exist in the west channel of ,popponesset ,river1 covering practically all the territory4 ,only about #e to #aj acres of this territory is suitable for oyster culture4 ,the ground granted for oysters is used indiscriminately for quahauging and scalloping1 and seems to be almost public property4 ,but one man is engaged in the oyster business1 and he rarely ships any1 but peddles them around the community4 ,no seed is caught4 ,starfish and oyster drills are very scarce4 ,a cat boat1 dory and tongs constitute the capital invested1 which is valued at #bjj4 ,the annual production is valued at #ajj4 ,falmouth4 ,the oyster industry of ,falmouth is conducted on the south side of the town1 in the waters of ,waquoit ,bay4 ,there are no oysters on the ,buzzards ,bay side of the town4 ,according to the town records1 there are #bb grants in existence4 ,these grants are mostly small1 not averaging more than #b to #aj acres1 and are but little cultivated4 ,returns from #f of these grants1 which comprise all the territory worked for market1 are alone used for the statistical figures4 ,the best oyster territory is in ,waquoit ,bay and ,child's ,river4 ,in ,waquoit ,bay #f acres are granted1 #d acres of which is hard bottom1 suitable for oyster culture4 ,in ,child's ,river the grants comprise #bj acres1 two-thirds of which1 or #ac acres1 is hard bottom4 ,altogether1 some #dd acres are granted1 and1 although a good deal of the surface is muddy1 there are #bc acres of very fair oyster ground4 ,no business is made of raising seed1 but from two to three year old seed is shipped from ,greenport1 ,l4 ,i41 and replanted4 ,in #aijf-jg1 #c1jab bushels of marketable oysters1 valued at #f1jbe1 were shipped4 ,many of the grants are leased to men who raise oysters for their own use only1 while but few make a business of shipping oysters4 ,the only enemy is the oyster drill1 which does but slight damage here4 ,three men are engaged for nine months each year in the oyster industry at ,falmouth2 while #e or more run grants for their own use4 ,capital invested1 #c1jhj ,power boats1 #a ,value of power boats1 #hjj ,sail boats1 #a ,value of sail boats1 #bej ,dories1 #d ,value of dories1 #ge ,scows1 #a ,value of scows1 #djj ,implements3-- ,dredges1 #b ,tongs1 #f ,value of implements1 #aje ,value of shore property1 #a1jjj ,value of bedded oysters1 #dej ,buzzards ,bay ,district4 ,the ,buzzards ,bay oyster industry is in a state verging on chaos4 ,in some specially favored localities it is in a flourishing condition2 in others hardly less favorable it is almost completely stagnant4 ,great natural advantages exist1 which if properly utilized would create a business of immense proportions4 ,these resources are for the most part but poorly improved1 and in many cases are neglected altogether4 ,a spirit of uncertainty1 which discourages confidence and checks initiative1 seems to pervade the business atmosphere4 ,amid this uncertainty and conflicting forces1 one fact1 at once the starting point of the whole difficulty and at the same time the sole solution of the problem1 stands out vividly clear4 ,this is the need of proper legislation4 ,the troubles which beset the ,buzzards ,bay oyster industry are directly traceable to defects in the present legislative system4 ,these defects are both active and passive4 ,in some cases unwise and illogical laws are in operation1 which hamper business activity2 in other cases laws for which there is a crying need are laid aside or neglected4 ,a reform in certain aspects of town supervision is the demand of the hour4 ,until the present system receives an overhauling1 it is doubtful if the industry will ever experience full prosperity4 ,in order to gain a clear insight into the difficulties which darken the immediate outlook in this region1 it will be necessary to take a brief survey of the history and present status of the industry4 ,the beginnings of the oyster fishery in ,buzzards ,bay arose from the exploitation and subsequent depletion of the natural beds4 ,these beds1 of which there are several scattered along the coast from ,bourne to ,mattapoisett1 furnished for a long time a large annual output of oysters4 ,in the early '#gj's the supply began to decrease rapidly1 and the fear of total extermination caused the selectmen of ,marion1 ,wareham and ,sandwich 7,bourne7 to attempt a strict supervision of the fishery4 ,these attempts were in all cases unsatisfactory1 and about #ahge the artificial culture of oysters began almost simultaneously in the three towns by the issue of licenses or grants to private individuals4 ,the measure was popular from the first4 ,almost all the available land was speedily appropriated1 and a flourishing but exotic industry1 stimulated by a considerable outlay of capital1 burst into life4 ,at ,marion the new business lasted precisely fifteen years4 ,the industry was largely a losing venture4 ,the oysters did not grow well1 and were of inferior quality4 ,in time1 doubtless1 when the causes which produced these effects had been studied1 a stable and well-ordered industry would have resulted4 ,it is but natural to assume that where oysters grew in a wild state1 cultivated ones could likewise be grown4 ,such an outcome1 however1 was not destined to follow4 ,the grants had been so given that they all expired at the same time4 ,when this date arrived1 the majority of the inhabitants of ,marion were of the opinion that the oyster grants would yield far better returns if utilized merely for the quahaugs which grew naturally on them1 and the whole harbor was consequently thrown open as common ground4 ,from that date the quahaug fishery has waned almost to the point of extinction1 but no efforts have been made to resurrect the old oyster industry1 which has practically disappeared4 ,at ,bourne the industry began with bright prospects4 ,the present business1 though somewhat impoverished1 still possesses those inherent resources which are capable of developing a more extensive industry4 ,at ,wareham the business was of slower growth and more logical development1 and it has continued to increase1 until at present the town possesses an important industry4 ,it has struggled with many problems which have retarded its growth1 and which still embarrass it4 ,these are primarily problems of legislation1 as the industry stands in need of better regulations before it can attain its maximum development4 ,in all these difficulties1 which have been briefly outlined and hinted at1 the main source of annoyance has been the strife between two rival factions1--the oyster and quahaug interests4 ,these interests have ever been at war1 and the result has been almost fatally destructive to both4 ,the questions at stake in this controversy have been broad in their general interest4 ,the quahaug industry is essentially democratic1 representing roughly labor as against capital1 and demands that tidal flats and waters be kept as common property for general use4 ,the oyster industry1 on the other hand1 is essentially exclusive1 representing organized capital1 and maintains that oyster grants are as much the subject of private ownership as farms and city lots4 ,the whole aim of legislation has been to reconcile these wholly opposite theories4 ,the problem has been complex and many-sided1 and it is not strange that the selectmen of the towns in question have been unable to harmonize the two factions or pass regulations suitable to both parties4 ,certain it is that in trying to benefit both they have benefited neither1 and the present confusion has resulted4 ,the matter is one certainly of sufficient importance to merit attention from the ,state4 ,it is not merely local4 ,the whole ,commonwealth is interested vitally in the development of its industries1 and it is unwise to allow so important an industry as the oyster fishery to remain solely in the hands of local authority1 especially when local authority has shown itself unable to cope with the problem4 ,the present system in vogue in the ,buzzards ,bay district is perhaps unfair to both parties in its policy4 ,the selectmen may lease an unlimited number of grants1 of an unlimited area1 to any citizen or number of citizens of the town in question4 ,theoretically at least they may grant all the available area in sight to one man4 ,there must of course be the formality of a hearing1 and sufficient pressure may be and is frequently brought to bear upon the selectmen to retard them from exercising the full extent of their authority2 but nevertheless the system is unjust to the majority1 and it is small wonder that the quahaug fishermen feel aggrieved that some of their former privileges are thus curtailed4 ,furthermore1 the clause which demands that these grants should be used for the cultivation of oysters is oftentimes openly evaded1 and a good portion of the granted area1 though not used for oysters1 is closed to the quahaugers4 ,on the other hand1 the oystermen1 while apparently enjoying great privileges1 in reality are severely handicapped4 ,an oysterman obtains a grant perhaps with great difficulty1 owing to opposition from the quahaug men4 ,he can carry on no extensive business without the expenditure of considerable capital4 ,if he seeds his grant1 the first two or three years are spent in the maturing of the first harvest4 ,the grant is given only for ten years2 consequently1 when it has run for seven or eight years the owner is in doubt whether to plant any more seed1 as he does not know that his license will be renewed and naturally does not wish to plant a bed for his unknown successor4 ,again1 if he is fairly successful and wishes to expand his business1 he cannot without great risk invest in the costly equipment necessary for such an enterprise1 as he has no certainty of getting a sufficient amount of territory or of keeping it any length of time4 ,furthermore1 additional complications arise from the disputes with owners of adjoining shore property4 ,this is particularly unfortunate1 as this tidal area along the shore is most valuable for the collection of oyster set or seed4 ,from the foregoing statements it appears that the oyster and quahaug factions are in the position of two combatants who continue to fight1 while the object of the strife is lost to both4 ,it is impossible to handle so grave a problem by merely theorizing1 but a few ideas might be suggested as bearing favorably on the subject4 ,it would seem wise to refrain as far as possible from granting the best portions of quahaug territory1 for there is sufficient room for both industries to flourish4 ,then1 too1 grants might be rented at so much per acre as long as the owner desired within certain time limits1 assuming that he paid his annual rental and improved his grant4 ,these and other suggestions might be made which would seem an improvement over the present circumstances2 but it is doubtful if conditions can be much bettered until some motive force and centralized authority is supplied by proper legislation4 ,bourne4 ,bourne has long supported a promising oyster industry4 ,in some respects it has greater advantages for the extension of this business than ,wareham1 but the invested capital1 the annual product and the resulting revenue are all overshadowed by those of its neighboring rival4 ,the great natural resources which ,bourne possesses1 its extensive available area1 its multiplicity of bays1 inlets1 islands and rivers1--these and a variety of other causes combine to make it a most favorable locality for the growth of oysters2 and it is indeed an unfortunate circumstance both for the shellfish interests of the community and the broader interests of the ,state that so great a source of economic wealth should be so little improved4 ,the vexing questions which harass the oyster planters of ,wareham and hamper their efforts are present here in even greater force4 ,in many places where a flourishing business was once carried on the industry is at a standstill1 while nowhere does it evince that life and activity which its decided advantages warrant4 ,the town books contain records of #ace grants in force to-day4 ,no accurate system of charting is in vogue except in the ,monument ,river1 and no absolutely reliable data concerning the total area is available1 but the combined territory comprised in these grants aggregates nearly #fjj acres4 ,of this territory1 however1 only a portion1 and a relatively small portion1 is really improved2 the remainder is either allowed to lie dormant or is worked merely for the quahaugs which it produces4 ,the oyster territory of ,bourne is divided into five distinct sections3 the ,monument ,river section1 the region about ,mashnee ,island1 ,toby ,island and vicinity1 ,basset's ,island and the neighborhood of ,wing's ,neck1 and ,pocasset and the ,red ,brook harbor or ,cataumet district4 ,of these five regions1 the ,monument ,river ranks first1 both in the total area and also in importance1 and it is here that most of the business is carried on4 ,the statistical returns of the ,bourne oystermen show that only #db grants comprising #ajj acres are worked4 ,of this #hc acres is hard bottom suitable for oyster raising while the remaining #ag acres is mostly soft mud4 ,capital invested1 #bd1ddh ,power boats1 #c ,value of power boats1 #c1jjj ,sail boats1 #h ,value of sail boats1 #a1ijj ,dories and skiffs1 #bi ,value of dories and skiffs1 #fae ,implements3-- ,dredges1 #ii ,tongs1 #ch ,value of implements1 #dhc ,value of shore property1 #aej ,value of bedded oysters1 #ah1cjj ,twenty-one men make a living from the industry4 ,the production for the year ending ,aug4 #a1 #aijg1 amounted to #b1ajj bushels of marketable oysters1 valued at #d1ajj1 and #bc1jjj bushels of seed1 worth #ae1jjj4 ,the methods employed in oyster culture here are similar to those in use at ,wareham4 ,thousands of bushels of shells1 preferably those of the scallop1 are strewn over the bottom to collect the set1 which is then taken up and transferred to the proper grant or shipped for sale4 ,the two great enemies of the oyster1 the borer or drill1 and the starfish1 flourish here4 ,the borer seems more destructive in those sections which are comparatively sheltered1 the starfish in more exposed localities4 ,the history of the industry is one of picturesque variety4 ,the beginnings of the industry were bright with promise2 the sudden growth which followed was spectacular but erratic2 and the difficulties which soon arose plunged it into complications from which it emerged much shattered and greatly declined4 ,originally there were three good natural beds1--in ,monument ,river1 ,barlow's ,river and ,red ,brook harbor1 respectively4 ,these beds long supplied all the oysters produced1 and when in #ahcd they began to be depleted1 legislation was enacted regulating them until #ahfc1 when the town surveyed a number of grants in the ,monument ,river1 each with an average area of #a to #aj acres1 and allowed one of these grants to every citizen desiring it1 on the payment of #b4ej4 ,these old beds still linger as rather uncertain assets of the communal wealth4 ,the ,monument ,river grounds still supply a fairly large harvest1 the ,barlow ,river has declined much more1 while the ,cataumet beds are nearly extinct4 ,the shellfish laws of this region are of vital importance1 as it is their province to inaugurate order from chaos1 put a stop to wasteful methods1 and take such steps as appear necessary for the proper development of the industry4 ,how greatly these laws fail in their mission is abundantly shown by the present conditions of the fishery4 ,the whole situation is on the threshold of a change4 ,what this change will be1 whether for better or worse1 depends upon the legislation of the future4 ,wareham4 ,wareham is the second town in the ,state in the production of oysters1 being excelled in this respect by ,barnstable alone4 ,its commanding position at the head of ,buzzards ,bay1 the numerous indentations of its coast line1 and the three rivers which lie partially within its borders1 give it a wide expanse of available territory exceptionally favorable for the development of this shellfish industry4 ,the substantial success which has attended the oyster business at ,wareham has been attained by slow but steady growth4 ,many problems have been encountered1--problems of local prejudice1 opposition from rival industries and the like2 but these problems have simply hampered the industry1--they have not sufficed to check its growth4 ,at present the business seems firmly established1 and can enter on its future career of prosperity as soon as the barriers which block its progress shall have been removed4 ,the town records show a total of #abe grants in operation to-day4 ,these grants are poorly described and for the most part unsurveyed1 but their total area approximates #a1jjj acres4 ,according to the statistical returns of the oystermen1 #gj grants1 comprising #aif acres1 are under cultivation4 ,of this1 #aei acres are of hard bottom1 suitable for oyster planting1 while the waste area is equally soft mud and shifting sand4 ,capital invested1 #dj1fbj ,power boats1 #d ,value of power boats1 #c1hjj ,sail boats1 #ag ,value of sail boats1 #d1dhe ,dories and skiffs1 #ej ,value of dories and skiffs1 #hbj ,scows1 #b ,value of scows1 #bej ,implements3-- ,dredges1 #abj ,tongs1 #hd ,value of implements1 #a1abj ,value of shore property1 #b1dbj ,value of bedded oysters1 #bg1gbe ,the catching of oyster seed at ,wareham is more important than the raising of marketable oysters2 #bb1ajj bushels of seed1 valued at #ab1jij1 were exported last year 7#aijf-jg74 ,thousands of bushels of shells1 chiefly those of the scallop1 are planted yearly in shallow water1 to catch the set4 ,the territory where these shells may be planted to the best advantage is on the fringe of tidal flats which skirt the coast4 ,this area1 however1 which is consequently of considerable value1 is of doubtful ownership1 being claimed both by the oystermen and also by the owners of the adjacent shore property4 ,the dispute arising over this question has been most harmful to the industry4 ,the marketable oysters raised at ,wareham are of very good quality4 ,there were #g1ggj bushels of these oysters1 valued at #ab1gij1 produced in #aijf-jg1 and shipped mostly to ,new ,york and ,boston4 ,altogether1 there are #bf men depending on this industry for a living4 ,besides the grants1 there are two native beds1 one each in the ,wareham and the ,weweantit rivers4 ,these beds comprise nearly #hj acres1 and1 though now greatly reduced1 they still yield a considerable amount of seed oysters4 ,the laws governing the industry here are similar to those at ,bourne4 ,the ten-year grant prevails1 with all its attendant evils to the oysterman2 while the quahaugers have abundant cause to complain1 from the fact that practically all the available territory has been granted to the oystermen4 ,while it is true that scarcely a third of this land is utilized for the cultivation of oysters1 it is likewise true that the rights of the oystermen are by no means strictly observed by the quahauger4 ,there can be but one result of this policy1--endless wrangling and confusion1 and1 in the end1 loss to both parties4 ,the unfortunate thing about the whole matter is that most of this wastefulness is entirely needless2 but this is a problem for future legislation4 ,marion4 ,the oyster industry at ,marion is practically dead4 ,the last grants expired some ten or twelve years ago1 and were never renewed4 ,of the two original natural beds1 that in ,blankinship's ,cove is now almost entirely depleted1 while the larger and more important bed in the ,weweantit ,river has greatly declined in importance4 ,this bed1 however1 still supplies all the marketable oysters produced within the town1 though the annual production is insignificant4 ,from twenty-five to thirty years ago the oyster industry had its beginning1 and for a time flourished4 ,almost all the available territory1 both in the harbor and in the ,weweantit ,river1 was granted4 ,the older grants were leased for fifteen years1 and those of later date were arranged to run out at the same time2 so it followed that all the leases expired simultaneously1 and the industry came to an abrupt end4 ,these old grants were not renewed1 for two reasons3 first1 they had not paid very well2 and1 secondly1 the growing quahaug industry promised more lucrative returns4 ,the scallops1 too1 began to be abundant1 and the old oyster business gave way before its newer and more prosperous competitors4 ,fall ,river ,district4 ,the ,fall ,river district1 comprising the six towns of ,fall ,river1 ,freetown1 ,berkley1 ,dighton1 ,somerset and ,swansea1 may best be treated as a geographical unit4 ,the oyster industries of the individual communities overlap to a considerable extent1 and make distinct separation difficult1 while1 as the same methods of culture everywhere obtain and the same problems and difficulties are encountered1 a brief survey of this whole region may be comprehensively discussed in one article4 ,the beautiful shores of ,mount ,hope ,bay and its tributary streams1 the ,cole1 ,lee and ,taunton rivers1 furnish an extensive territory for a large oyster industry4 ,the best of this area is now included within the confines of the bay itself1 though the ,cole and ,lee rivers furnish a small but valuable addition4 ,the ,taunton ,river1 however1 which thirty years ago produced the finest oysters in the ,state1 and was the main source of supply for this district1 has become utterly worthless for the growth of marketable oysters4 ,in fact1 this river1 with its curious history1 and the difficulties which it now presents to the carrying on of an important and profitable industry1 furnishes the most interesting problem of this whole region4 ,this river embraces the entire oyster territory of ,freetown1 ,berkley and ,dighton and portions of ,somerset and ,fall ,river1--certainly half of all the available territory of the whole section2 and yet it is an indisputable fact that this large and formerly profitable area is now altogether unsuitable for the production of edible shellfish4 ,the causes for this transformation of a river which once supplied a large annual revenue to the prosperous communities which lined its banks1 into a stream unwholesome and unfit for the proper maturing of its shellfish1 have been much discussed4 ,the prevailing opinion seems to lay the blame to the impurities discharged into the river by the ,taunton factories4 ,other theories1 ingenious but far less worthy of weight1 have been urged2 but the burden of evidence strongly points to the sewage of the city of ,taunton as the probable main factor in the decline of the industry4 ,while greatly impaired as a favorable territory for the propagation of oysters1 the river1 however1 is still largely utilized4 ,extensive grants are sold by the towns of ,dighton1 ,berkley and ,freetown to oystermen1 who bed them with seed1 which is allowed to remain until it is from two to three years old1 when it is taken up and replanted in some other locality where the waters are uncontaminated1 and here left for a certain time until it becomes purified and ready for shipment to market4 ,by this method the old grants are still worked1 though greatly declined in value1 as oysters can no longer be sold to market direct1 and the process of transplanting entails considerable expense4 ,in the other towns of this region the industry is carried on much the same as in ,buzzards ,bay or ,barnstable4 ,a great deal of attention is paid to the enemies of the oyster1 particularly the starfish4 ,this animal is combated chiefly with mops of cotton waste which are dragged over the bottom1 and the starfish1 becoming entangled in the strands1 are removed and destroyed4 ,as this fairly effectual warfare is being constantly waged1 the numbers of this pest are kept well reduced1 and the grounds maintained in very good condition4 ,by a peculiar local custom1 which would be decidedly unpopular in some coast communities1 the towns of this section usually sell their entire oyster privilege to some individual or company1 ordinarily the highest bidder4 ,in this manner1 aided by the fact that some persons purchasing such rights re-sell them to others1 the oyster industry of this entire region is owned and controlled by a very few men4 ,this arrangement1 however1 does not seem to be unpopular1 the only difficulty arising from those clammers who are accustomed to dig clams under water1 and sometimes find a bed located on an oysterman's grant4 ,in such cases the owners usually waive their rights1 and allow the clammers to dig undisturbed4 ,as has been said1 the oyster industry in this district1 while it has by no means attained its maximum development1 has indeed reached very considerable proportions4 ,the entire amount of area granted aggregates #haj acres4 ,of this total1 some #eaj acres are suitable for oyster culture1 the remainder being soft mud1 shifting sand1 or otherwise unfit for utilization4 ,the entire output for #aijg exceeded #ch1jjj bushels1 valued at #bf1bej4 ,thirty-six men depend partially upon the business for a livelihood4 ,capital invested1 #if1edj ,power boats1 #i ,value of power boats1 #ai1ejj ,dories and skiffs1 #ag ,value of dories and skiffs1 #cdj ,implements3-- ,dredges1 #ab ,tongs1 #ah ,value of implements1 #b1jjj ,value of shore property1 #f1bjj ,value of oysters on grant1 #fh1ejj ,nantucket4 ,the oyster industry of ,nantucket is of recent origin1 and the oysters are as yet raised only for home consumption4 ,two grants have been leased by the selectmen1 but only one of these is now planted4 ,these grants are situated in the east and west bends of ,polpis harbor4 ,the cultivated grant in the west bend comprises some #bj acres1 only #c of which are of hard bottom and suitable for oyster culture1 the remaining #ag having a soft mud bottom4 ,the seed planted on the grant is obtained at ,new ,haven4 ,in the last few years the oysters on this grant have thrown a large quantity of spawn1 which has caught on piles and stones at various places around ,nantucket harbor4 ,the only enemy to the ,nantucket oyster is the oyster drill4 ,the production of marketable oysters for #aijf-jg was #bjj bushels1 valued at #djj4 ,these were sold for home trade on the island4 ,one man is engaged in the oyster business for a period of three months each year4 ,the oysters are taken both by dredging and with tongs4 ,capital invested1 #a1ceh ,power boats1 #a ,value of power boats1 #ejj ,dories1 #a ,value of dories1 #ah ,implements3-- ,dredges1 #b ,tongs1 #a ,value of implements1 #ae ,value of shore property1 #be ,value of oysters on grant1 #hjj ,,footnotes3 #ae ,the ,oyster ,industry in the ,united ,states4 ,tenth ,census of the ,united ,states4 #af ,returns of the ,massachusetts department on fisheries and game4 ,,clam 7,mya arenaria74 ,mya arenaria1 commonly known as the soft or long-neck clam1 is found along the entire ,massachusetts coast1 wherever there is afforded a sufficient shelter from the open ocean4 ,exposed beaches with open surf are never inhabited by this mollusk1 which is usually found on the tide flats of bays1 inlets and rivers1 and on the sheltered beaches between high and low tide lines4 ,the clam occurs in various kinds of soil1 from rocky gravel to soft mud1 but grows best in a tenacious soil of mud and sand1 where it lies buried at a depth of from #f to #ab inches4 ,as ,cape ,cod marks the dividing line between a northern and a southern fauna1 it also divides the clam flats of ,massachusetts into two distinct areas4 ,the same clam is found both north and south of ,cape ,cod1 but the natural conditions under which it lives are quite different4 ,in comparing these two areas1 several points of difference are noted4 7#a7 ,the clam areas of the north coast are mostly large flats1 while those of the south shore are confined to a narrow shore strip1 as ,buzzards ,bay and the south side of ,cape ,cod for certain geological reasons do not possess flats1 but merely beaches4 7#b7 ,the rise and fall of the tide is much higher on the north shore1 thus giving an extent of available flats nearly six times the clam area south of ,cape ,cod4 7#c7 ,clam growth as a rule is much faster on the north shore4 ,this is due to the great amount of tide flow over the river flats of the north shore4 ,current is the main essential for rapid clam growth1 as it transports the food4 ,the average south shore flats possess merely the rise and fall of the tide1 and as a rule have not the currents of the north shore rivers4 7#d7 ,the temperature of the northern waters is several degrees colder than the waters south of ,cape ,cod4 ,this affords1 as has been shown experimentally1 a longer season of growth for the southern clam4 ,the north shore clam in the ,essex region only increases the size of its shell through the six summer months1 while the south shore clam grows slightly during the winter4 ,the present advantages lie wholly with the north shore district1 as through overdigging the less extensive areas of southern ,massachusetts have become in most parts commercially barren4 ,overdigging has not occurred to the same extent on the north shore1 owing to the vast extent of the flats4 ,nevertheless1 many acres of these1 as at ,plymouth1 ,kingston1 ,duxbury1 and even ,gloucester and ,essex1 have become wholly or partially unproductive4 ,the only important clamming in ,massachusetts to-day is found in the towns bordering ,ipswich ,bay4 ,the south shore and a good part of the north shore furnish but few clams for the market4 ,in view of restocking the barren areas through cultural methods1 the north shore possesses two advantages over the south shore3 it has a larger natural supply at present1 which will make restocking easier2 it has larger areas of flats1 which can be made to produce twenty times the normal yield of the south shore flats4 ,although1 compared with the north shore1 the clam area of the south shore seems poor1 it is above the average when compared with the clam areas of the other ,states south of ,massachusetts1 and when properly restocked the clam flats of southern ,massachusetts should furnish a large annual production4 ,if the clam industry is not properly cared for1 it will be totally ruined before many years4 ,the clammers do not realize this1 because of a mistaken impression that nature will forever furnish them with good clamming1 and they have little thought for the future2 while1 on the other hand1 the consumer is indifferent from lack of knowledge4 ,scope of the ,report4--,the object of this report is to present in brief form the condition of the clam fishery in ,massachusetts4 ,for this purpose facts showing the present extent of the industry have been compiled1 with the view of furnishing both the clammer and consumer with certain desirable information4 ,the report will consider3 7#a7 general conditions of the industry of #aijg2 7#b7 a survey of the clam-producing area1 illustrated by maps2 7#c7 a plan of clam culture which will make productive many acres of barren flats2 7#d7 the history of the clam industry1 a comparison being made between the industries of #ahgi and #aijg2 7#e7 a description of the industry4 ,methods of ,work4--,the same methods as used with the other shellfish were pursued in obtaining the statistical data for the clam industry4 ,the clam-producing areas were examined and the observations recorded4 ,town records1 which were of some assistance with the other shellfish1 furnished practically no clam data1 compelling the ,commission to rely upon the estimates of the clammers and clam dealers4 ,while this method made it difficult to secure accurate detailed information1 the statistics for each town were checked up in a variety of ways1 thus furnishing as nearly correct figures as can be obtained4 ,in making an historical comparison of #ahgi and #aijg1 the report of ,ernest ,ingersoll on the clam fishery of the ,united ,states1 and the report of ,a4 ,howard ,clark on the fisheries of ,massachusetts1 as published in the ,united ,states ,fish ,commission ,report1 ,section ,v1 volume #b1 and ,section ,,ii41 respectively1 were of great use1 as practically all of the statistics for #ahgi were obtained from these two reports4 ,in making the survey of the clam areas1 records were made of3 7#a7 soil2 7#b7 food 7a7 in water1 7b7 on surface of soil2 7#c7 rate of currents2 7#d7 abundance of clams and localities of set2 7#e7 barren flats that can be made productive4 ,in the present report only the kind of soil1 abundance of clams and area of barren flats will be given1 the food problem being reserved for later publication4 ,summary4--,in the following summary the seacoast towns are arranged in geographical order from north to south4 ,the number of men includes both regular and intermittent clammers who dig for the market2 all others are excluded4 ,in determining the production of any town it is impossible to obtain exactly correct figures1 as the amount dug for home consumption is an unestimable quantity1 and the clams are marketed in a number of ways1 rendering it almost impossible to get complete statistics4 ,the production statistics have been obtained in a variety of ways1 and the final estimates have resulted from careful consideration of all facts4 ,the invested capital includes the clammer's outfit and boat1 but does not include personal apparel1 such as boots and oil skins4 ,the clam flats are divided into two main divisions3 7#a7 productive2 and 7#b7 barren4 ,the barren areas are those where at present no clams grow at all1 not even scattering2 and areas yielding even a few clams are still considered productive flats1 though to all practical purposes barren4 ,it was necessary to make the division thus1 as otherwise no decisive line could be drawn4 ,the barren flats are divided into those sections that can be made productive and those that can never be made to grow clams4 ,the productive flats1 on the other hand1 are divided into areas of good clamming and areas of scattering clams which do not support a commercial fishery4 ,the normal production of the clam flats has been carefully estimated1 in view of the previous experiments of the ,fish and ,game ,commission1 and the different classes of flats have each been given a certain valuation in computing the total for each town4 ,the areas given of the clam flats are based upon calculations1 as no engineering survey was made4 ,the price of clams varies in different localities1 and chiefly depends upon the quality of clams and the method of marketing4 ,in certain towns clams are shucked 7removed from the shell71--a process which greatly increases their market value2 while in other places they are sold only in the shell4 ,these two facts account for the apparent variation in the value of the production in different localities1 as each town is given its own market price4 ,the following production table does not include an important factor1--the amount of clams dug by the summer people4 ,an unestimable quantity is annually taken from the flats in this way1 and is not included in the production statistics4 ,indeed1 summer people have affected the clamming interests of several towns1 as the selectmen have refused to place closed seasons1 etc41 on certain depleted flats in order to cater to the summer residents1 who desire free clamming near their cottages4 ,the total number of licenses issued by the boards of health of ,boston and ,new ,bedford for taking shellfish in their respective harbors are given as representing the number of clammers4 ,in reality1 however1 only a few of these licensees make a regular business of clamming4 ,,summary ,,of ,,the ,,clam ,,industry4 #aijg ,,production4 ,,total ,,area4 ---------------------------------------- ,number ,mussels ,,town4 of ,capital and ,eel ,men4 invested4,bushels4 ,value4 ,sand4 ,mud4,gravel4 ,grass4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ,salisbury1 #ffag #fbe #ae1jjj #af1ejj #cd #baf - - ,newburyport1 #age #b1gjj #ee1ejj #fa1jjj #aej #icj - - ,newbury1 #f #ge #cjj #bej #aaj #bej - - ,rowley1 #ae #hjj #b1jjj #a1ejj #bej #aej - - ,ipswich1 #acfag #g1ejj #be1jjj #ah1gej #cij #ejj #ee #be ,essex1 #ej #a1bjj #ae1jjj #ab1gej #ejj #abe - #be ,gloucester1 #ca #fjj #f1jjj #h1jjj #bej #bjj - #ajj ,manchester1 - - #ajj #ajj #aj #aj - - ,beverly1 - - #ajj #ajj #cj #bj - - ,salem1 #g #ge #bjj #bjj #ge #be - - ,lynn1 #g #ajj #a1jjj #a1jjj #ij #cjj #e #e ,saugus1 #aj #ajj #a1jjj #a1jjj #ajj #aej - - ,nahant1 - - #cjj #cjj #ej #ajj #ajj - ,boston1 #cejah #b1bej #g1ejj #f1jjj #ebec1cbe #a1chj #a1jie ,cohasset1 - - #bjj #bjj #ej #ej - - ,scituate1 - - #bjj #bjj #ej #de #e - ,marshfield1 - - #bjj #bjj #dj #ej #aj - ,,productive ,,area4 ------------------ ,barren ,area ,waste ,possible ,,town4 ,total ,good ,scatteringpossibly ,barren ,normal ,area ,clamming ,clams ,productive ,area ,production4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------- ,salisbury1 #bej #aej #ajj - - #gj1jjj ,newburyport1 #a1jhj #hjj #bhj - - #bej1jjj ,newbury1 #cfj - #ajj #bfj - #dj1jjj ,rowley1 #djj #bj #hj #cjj - #fj1jjj ,ipswich1 #igj #djj #dbj #abe #be #bjj1jjj ,essex1 #fej #aej #aej #cbe #be #abj1jjj ,gloucester1 #eej #ge #ajj #bge #ajj #gj1jjj ,manchester1 #bj - #e #aj #e #b1jjj ,beverly1 #ej - #aj #cj #aj #e1jjj ,salem #ajj #e #aj #gj #ae #aa1jjj ,lynn1 #djj #aj #cj #afj #bjj #bf1jjj ,saugus1 #bej #aj #dj #ajj #ajj #bb1jjj ,nahant1 #bej - #ej #aej #ej #be1jjj ,boston1 #f1cbe #ajj #a1ahj #a1jjj #d1jde #cgf1jjj ,cohasset1 #ajj - #aj #dj #ej #f1jjj ,scituate1 #ajj - #bj #dj #dj #h1jjj ,marshfield1 #ajj - #cj #cj #dj #i1jjj #aijg ,,production4 ,,total ,,area4 ---------------------------------------- ,number ,mussels ,,town4 of ,capital and ,eel ,men4 invested4,bushels4 ,value4 ,sand4 ,mud4,gravel4 ,grass4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ,duxbury1 #e #fj #gjj #fjj #hjj - - #b1gjj ,kingston1 #d #ej #ejj #dej #aej - - #dej ,plymouth1 #f #fj #c1jjj #b1ejj #djj #ajj - #a1ajj ,barnstable1 #be #bjj #gjj #eej #bjj #aej - #ej ,yarmouth1 #e #dj #fjj #ejj #be #ae #aj - ,orleans1 #cj #bjj #c1jjj #c1jjj #abe #ej #bj #e ,eastham1 #cf #bej #d1jjj #d1jjj #ajj #ej #cj #bj ,wellfleet1 #aa #cjj #hjj #fdj #dej #e #aej - ,truro1 #a #b #ej #fj #ej - - - ,provincetown1 #e #ae #djj #cbj #djj - - - ,chatham1 #aj #djj #a1ejj #a1bjj #ccj #aj #bj - ,harwich1 - - #ajj #hj #aj #aj #aj - ,dennis1 - - #ej #de #be #ae #aj - ,mashpee1 #b #bj #ej #de #bj #e #bj #e ,falmouth1 - - #bjj #age #dj #e #e - ,bourne1 - - #ajj #ajj #e #e #cj - ,wareham1 #f #ajj #hjj #hjj #ae #aj #ge - ,marion1 #a #ae #ajj #ajj - - #aj - ,mattapoisett1 #a #ae #ajj #ajj - #e #e - ,fairhaven1 - - #ajj #ajj - #be #be - ,new ,bedford1 #cbjah - #cjj #bbe #e #e #ae - ,dartmouth1 #d #ej #bjj #afj #ae #aj #e - ,,productive ,,area4 ------------------ ,barren ,area ,waste ,possible ,,town4 ,total ,good ,scatteringpossibly ,barren ,normal ,area ,clamming ,clams ,productive ,area ,production4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------- ,duxbury1 #c1ejj #e #aj #hjj #b1fhe #hc1jjj ,kingston1 #fjj #e #e #aej #ddj #ah1jjj ,plymouth1 #a1fjj #aj #ej #ddj #a1ajj #eh1jjj ,barnstable1 #djj #aj #aj #ccj #ej #ci1jjj ,yarmouth1 #ej #e #aj #be #aj #f1jjj ,orleans1 #bjj #be #ej #ge #ej #bg1jjj ,eastham1 #bjj #be #ej #ajj #be #cj1jjj ,wellfleet1 #fje #c #ab #bej #cdj #bh1jjj ,truro1 #ej #a #b #dg - #e1jjj ,provincetown1 #djj #c #c #bjj #aid #ba1jjj ,chatham1 #cfj #aj #ej #cjj - #dd1jjj ,harwich1 #cj #a #e #aj #ad #b1djj ,dennis1 #ej #a #d #cj #ae #d1bjj ,mashpee1 #ej #b #h #cj #aj #e1djj ,falmouth1 #ej #b #h #dj - #f1djj ,bourne1 #dj - #cj - #aj #f1jjj ,wareham1 #ajj - #ej - #ej #aj1jjj ,marion1 #aj - #aj - - #b1jjj ,mattapoisett1 #aj - #aj - - #b1jjj ,fairhaven1 #ej - #be #be - #g1ejj ,new ,bedford1 #be - #ae - #aj #c1jjj ,dartmouth1 #cj #e #ae - #aj #e1jjj #aijg ,,production4 ,,total ,,area4 ---------------------------------------- ,number ,mussels ,,town4 of ,capital and ,eel ,men4 invested4,bushels4 ,value4 ,sand4 ,mud4,gravel4 ,grass4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ,swansea1 #be #bej #e1jjj #e1jjj #ajj #ajj - - ,somerset1 - - #ej #ej - #be #be - ,dighton1 - - #dj #dj - #e #e - ,berkley1 - - #be #be - #e #e - ,freetown1 - - #ajj #ajj - #aj #ae - ,fall ,river1 - - #ajj #ge - #bj #e - ,nantucket1 #d #dj #djj #cej #aej #be #be - ,edgartown1 #g #ej #a1bjj #a1jjj #aej - #ej - ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,total1 #a1cfa #ah1adb #aec1hfeaej1ddjf1bfig1aaa #b1abe #e1ehj ,,productive ,,area4 ------------------ ,barren ,area ,waste ,possible ,,town4 ,total ,good ,scatteringpossibly ,barren ,normal ,area ,clamming ,clams ,productive ,area ,production4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------- ,swansea1 #bjj #bj #cj #ajj #ej #bd1jjj ,somerset1 #ej - #aj #bj #bj #d1jjj ,dighton1 #aj - #b #h - #a1bjj ,berkley1 #aj - #d #f - #a1djj ,freetown1 #be - #ae - #aj #c1jjj ,fall ,river1 #be - #aj #ae - #c1ejj ,nantucket1 #bjj #e #ae #acj #ej #ah1jjj ,edgartown1 #bjj #bj #ajj #ej #cj #cc1jjj ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,total1 #ba1jhe #a1hgh #c1bcc #f1jif #i1hgha1hja1jjj ,decline of the ,natural ,clam ,supply4--,the decline of the clam supply is a matter of general knowledge4 ,people who live along the seashore realize that they can no longer gather the amount of clams they once could dig with ease from the same flats4 ,on the southern shore of the ,state especially it is oftentimes difficult to obtain even enough for family use4 ,the consumer also realizes the loss of the clam1 as he is forced to pay higher prices4 ,if specific cases of this decline are demanded1 the following instances should show the exact depletion in the various localities4 ,even in the best clam-producing town of the ,state1 ,newburyport1 where the clam production1 according to statistics1 has apparently increased during the last twenty-five years 7as a result of more men entering the fishery71 the supply has shown signs of failing4 ,essex now possesses many acres of flats formerly productive which now lie in a practically barren condition4 ,gloucester can no longer boast of her former clam industry1 as the flats in ,annisquam ,river are in poor condition4 ,hardly #cj men now make a business of clamming in that town1 whereas #ib men were engaged in the fishery in #ahgi4 ,passing south of ,gloucester1 we find great evidence of decline in the ,boston harbor flats4 ,even before the edict closing the harbor from clammers was in force1 the production did not by any means equal that of #ahgi4 ,plymouth harbor1 including the three towns of ,duxbury1 ,kingston and ,plymouth1 furnishes an excellent illustration of this decline4 ,here an area of flats as extensive as all the other flats of the ,state combined now lies practically barren1 whereas in former times great quantities of clams were taken4 ,these flats had already become depleted to a marked extent by #ahgi1 and to-day practically no clams are shipped to market from the ,duxbury flats1 although you can still read ,duxbury clams on the menus of the hotels and restaurants1 showing how important a clam industry this town once possessed4 ,buzzards ,bay district lies at present unproductive except for supplying home consumption and the demands of the summer people4 ,the shores of ,cape ,cod no longer yield their former supply of clams1 and the most striking example of the extinction of a flourishing fishery is found in the town of ,chatham1 which now does not produce one-tenth part of its production in #ahgi4 ,the ,fall ,river or ,narragansett ,bay district does not come up to its past productiveness1 and now chiefly yields clams which in former times would have been considered as too small to use4 ,as can be seen by the following table1 which gives a comparison between the industry in #ahgi and #aijg1 the localities south of ,gloucester all show a decline in their production1 and there is no town on the coast which has not shown some depletion in the natural clam supply4 ,the localities of the north shore1 while indicating by their statistics a gain in production1 nevertheless have not their former abundance1 and the actual diminution of the supply is concealed by the fact that more men have entered the industry4 #ahgi4 #aijg4 ,,locality4 ---------------------------------------- -------- ,men4 ,bushels4 ,value4 ,men4 ,bushels4 ,value4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------- ,ipswich1 #ge #aa1ejj #d1fjj #acf #be1jjj #ah1gej ,salisbury and ,newburyport1 #fj #bh1hjj #aa1ebj #bda #gj1ejj #gg1ejj ,essex1 #ge #aa1ejj #d1ejj #ej #ae1jjj #ab1gej ,gloucester1 #ib #ac1igh #e1bjj #ca #f1jjj #h1jjj ,boston harbor1 #ij #dj1jjj #bj1jjj #cejai #g1ejj #f1jjj ,duxbury1 -#bj #e1jjj #b1ejj #e #gjj #fjj ,plymouth -#bj #e1jjj #b1ejj #f #c1jjj #b1ejj ,harwich1 #ae #a1abe #djj - #ajj #hj ,chatham1 #aej #ce1jjj #ab1bej #aj #a1ejj #a1bjj ,nantucket1 -#ai #b1bec #hgb #d #djj #cej ,edgartown1 -#bj #d1jjj #a1egj #g #a1bjj #a1jjj ,new ,bedford district1 -#bj #e1hjj #b1ijj #ccbai #a1fjj #a1fhe ,fall ,river district1 -#bj #c1cge #c1aba #be #e1cae #e1bij ,causes of the ,decline4--,the same cause which has been stated in the general report has contributed to the decline of the clam supply1 i4e41 the increasing demand which has led to overfishing4 ,thus the decline can be directly attributed to the exploiting of natural clam resources by man1 although it must be admitted that natural agencies1 such as geographical changes1 destroy the clam flats of certain localities and build up others4 ,this decline has become possible through the indifference of the towns to the welfare of their clam fishery1 and by not restricting1 through town laws1 the extermination of the clams in time to allow nature to replenish the flats4 ,some towns1 such as ,ipswich1 have regulated this matter by placing closed seasons on portions of the flats1 which has been the partial means of preserving their natural supply4 ,thus the town laws have proved inadequate1 as most towns have no laws at all1 or have such unwise ones that they often defeat their own object4 ,it is again necessary to emphasize the need of reform in the clam industry4 ,this ,commonwealth once possessed an extensive supply of clams1 and still possesses part of its former abundance2 but the present supply is diminishing at such a rate that it will not be a quarter of a century before the natural clam fishery will be commercially extinct4 ,on the south shore clams are now commercially extinct1 and it is only a question of time1 if the present methods are allowed to remain1 before the north shore clams will also disappear4 ,the experiments of the ,massachusetts department of fisheries and game and the work of men who have planted this shellfish all show that thousands of dollars can be brought into the ,state by utilizing the waste clam areas1 and that the production can be so increased as to even exceed that of former years4 ,immediate action is necessary1 if this important industry is to be saved4 ,the ,remedy4--,the remedy is comparatively simple1 and abundant proof of its success is at hand4 ,by restocking the barren and unproductive areas of the ,commonwealth the present production can be increased many times4 ,experiments have shown that clams can be readily1 successfully and economically transplanted1 and that it is a completely practical undertaking4 ,not only can the barren areas be restocked1 but the yield of the productive areas can be much increased4 ,clam farming is the only practical method of restocking these areas1 and only through such means can the clam flats be made to yield their normal harvest4 ,clam ,farming4 ,the subject of clam farming has received a good deal of attention the past few years1 and much has been said concerning the enormous profits which would result from the cultivation of this shellfish4 ,while the newspaper statements have been for the most part correct1 there has been considerable exaggeration and many details have been inaccurate4 ,to remove any misapprehensions1 the following account of clam farming is given4 ,the value of clam farming has been perhaps overestimated4 ,while no fabulous returns are ever to be expected1 the yield is large in proportion to the labor1 and steady returns are sure4 ,the methods used are simple1 the capital required is small1 the area suitable for raising clams is extensive1 and clam farming gives promise of becoming one of the most prominent and remunerative shore industries4 ,the profits derived from such a system should furnish steady employment for hundreds of men on the ,massachusetts coast4 ,massachusetts possesses thousands of acres of tidal flats which are capable of producing clams4 ,most of these flats are practically barren1 i4e41 produce no clams in paying quantities1 and yet if planted with small clams will yield in from one to two years large quantities of marketable bivalves4 ,this large area of barren flats should be divided into small farms1 which should be leased to individuals for the purpose of planting and raising clams4 ,the ,necessity of ,clam ,farming4--,it is a well-known fact that the natural supply of clams is becoming rapidly exhausted1 and that this important fishery will become commercially extinct unless steps are taken to check its decline4 ,the only practical means known at the present time is clam farming4 ,in the past1 methods such as close seasons and restricting the catch have been used1 but with poor results1 as these have been economically wrong4 ,the correct method in such cases is not to restrict the demand1 but to increase the supply4 ,clam farming offers the only means of increasing the natural production1 and not only checking the decline1 but establishing a large industry4 ,is ,clam ,farming ,practical8--,clam farming is not a theory but an established fact4 ,clams will grow if planted in suitable places1 and will yield large returns4 ,for three years the ,commission of ,fisheries and ,game have made numerous experiments in clam farming in many seacoast towns4 ,they have not only proved its complete practicability1 but have also shown that large profits result from successful planting4 ,records are on file at the ,state ,house showing the exact results of these experimental farms1 which indicate the future success of clam farming4 ,besides the experiments of the ,commission on ,fisheries and ,game1 successful clam farming is now being carried on in several towns of the ,state4 ,the leading town in this line is ,essex1 where at least #ae grants are held by the clammers4 ,the only protection given is based upon public sentiment1 which1 however1 is sufficient to insure the success of the enterprise4 ,all these grants were staked out on flats which were producing no clams when granted1 although part of this area was once very productive4 ,so far these grants have proved most successful1 thus proving by actual experience that clam farming is a worthy rival of agriculture4 ,historical ,attempts at ,clam ,farming4--,clam farming has been in existence for years4 ,the first record of any legislation upon this subject is found in an act to regulate the clam fishery in and around the shores of ,plymouth1 ,kingston and ,duxbury in #ahgj1 whereby a license was granted for a term not exceeding five years to any inhabitant of these towns to plant1 cultivate and dig clams4 ,this license cost #b4ej1 and gave the exclusive use of the flats and creeks described to the licensee and his heirs during the time specified1 and also the right in an action of tort to recover treble damages from any person who1 without his consent1 dug or took clams from said grant4 ,evidently nothing was done to follow out this law1 which was soon forgotten4 ,in #ahgd an act was passed to regulate the shellfisheries 7including clams7 in the waters of ,mount ,hope ,bay and its tributaries4 ,the terms of this act were practically the same as the ,plymouth act1 the only difference being the substitution of the word shellfish for clam4 ,in #ahhh an act was passed by the town of ,winthrop1 authorizing the planting of clams on the shores of that town4 ,the grant was to consist of not over #b acres of barren flats1 situated more than #ejj feet from high-water mark4 ,the other provisions of this act were the same as those of the ,plymouth act of #ahgj4 ,the most important clam culture law was passed in #ahhh4 ,this authorized the planting of clams on the shores of ,essex4 ,here the provisions of the law were followed out1 and the first energetic attempt at clam farming started4 ,the law1 the provisions of which were nearly the same as the previous laws1 reads as follows3-- ,,acts ,,of #ahhh1 ,,chapter #aih4 ,,an ,,act ,,authorizing ,,the ,,planting ,,of ,,clams1 ,,in ,,and ,,around ,,the ,,shores ,,of ,,essex4 ,be it enacted1 etc41 as follows3 ,,section #a4 ,the selectmen of the town of ,essex may by writing under their hands grant a license for such a term of years1 not exceeding five1 as they in their discretion may deem necessary and the public good requires1 to any inhabitant of said town1 to plant1 cultivate and dig clams upon and in any flats and creeks in said town now unproductive thereof1 not exceeding two acres to any one person1 and not impairing the private rights of any person4 ,,section #b4 ,such license shall describe by metes and bounds the flats and creeks so appropriated and shall be recorded by the town clerk before it shall have any force1 and the person licensed shall pay to the selectmen for the use of said town two dollars and to the clerk fifty cents4 ,,section #c4 ,the person so licensed and his heirs and assigns shall for the purposes aforesaid have the exclusive use of the flats and creeks described in the license during the term specified therein1 and may in an action of tort recover treble damages of any person1 who1 without his or their consent digs or takes clams from such flats or creeks during the continuance of the license4 ,,section #d4 ,said town of ,essex at any legal meeting called for the purpose may make such by-laws1 not repugnant to the laws of the commonwealth1 as they may from time to time deem expedient to protect and preserve the shellfisheries within said town4 ,,section #e4 ,whoever takes any shellfish from within the waters of said town of ,essex in violation of the by-laws established by it or of the provisions of this act shall for every offence pay a fine of not less than five or more than ten dollars and costs of prosecution1 and one dollar for every bushel of shellfish so taken4 ,,section #f4 ,this act shall take effect upon its passage4 ,approved ,april #i1 #ahhh4 ,in the report of the ,united ,states ,commissioner of ,fish and ,fisheries for #ahid ,mr4 ,ansley ,hall gives the following account of clam culture under this act3-- ,during the first two years 7#ahhi-ij7 the people were slow to avail themselves of the privilege of planting1 for fear that after they had spent their time and labor they would not be able to secure protection from trespassers2 but in #ahia and #ahib lots were obtained and planted4 ,in #ahib there were #be acres that were quite productive1 about one-third of the entire catch of the section being obtained from them4 ,the catch from these lots is not definitely known1 but is estimated at about #b1ejj barrels4 ,cultivated clams possess some advantage over the natural growth1 from the fact that they are more uniform in size1 and are as large as the best natural clam4 ,they bring #a4ge per barrel1 while the natural clams sell for #a4ej per barrel4 ,this is the price received by the diggers4 ,one acre of these clams is considered to be worth #a1jjj1 if well seeded and favorably located so as not to be in danger of being submerged with sand4 ,this valuation would be too high for an average1 since all the acres are not equally well seeded and located4 ,the clammers are generally impressed that the industry can be extensively and profitably developed1 and their only fear is that they will not be able to secure lots permanently4 ,the greater part of the land available for this purpose is covered by the deeds of people owning farms along the river1 and the consent of the land owners has to be obtained before lots can be taken up4 ,it seems probable1 however1 that the business will continue to progress unless checked by complications that may arise relative to the occupancy of the grounds4 ,the result of this first practical attempt at clam culture was a complete failure1 and after a few years' trial the clam farms were all given up4 ,the main reason for this failure was lack of protection both from outsiders and from one another4 ,nevertheless1 this attempt proved that with proper protection a most successful industry could be made of clam farming4 ,the following statement by ,prof4 ,james ,l4 ,kellogg1 in the ,united ,states ,fish ,commission ,bulletin for #ahii1 describes the failure of clam culture at ,essex3-- ,it is not difficult to determine the reasons for the failure of the culture experiment at ,essex4 ,the areas upon which clams were planted were those which were at the time unproductive4 ,the beds still containing clams--the town flats--were free to any native of ,essex4 ,the one thing which was absolutely necessary to the success of any planter was that the clams on his leased ground should not be disturbed by other diggers4 ,this protection was apparently not given in any case by the town authorities1 and1 as no person lived within sight of the majority of the beds1 it was quite impossible for any man to guard his property much of the time4 ,as to what followed it is not easy to obtain definite testimony from the clammers themselves4 ,other citizens of the town1 however1 and some few clammers1 intimate that most of the men began to take clams from any property but their own1 and that in this way the full result of no man's labor in planting was ever realized4 ,others who did not make clam digging a regular business1 but only dug occasionally1 are said to have had no respect for the rights of those who had leased property4 ,it was said that at times when vessel builders and the shoe factory released employees1 many of them1 for lack of other occupation1 turned their attention to clam digging1 with the result that too many clams were at the time taken from the flats4 ,another reason for the failure of the ,essex experiment is that a number of short-sighted clammers began to fear1 after the clams had been planted1 that the production might suddenly become so great as to glut their market1 and1 as a consequence1 force prices down4 ,some few individuals1 inspired by this fear1 are reported to have said and to have done everything in their power to prevent the success of the experiment4 ,in all cases1 it is said1 the selectmen of the town1 who issued the leases1 refused their aid in the prosecution of trespassers4 ,in spite of the fact1 which had been demonstrated in the experiment1 that when properly planted the clams grew much more rapidly and became much larger than on the natural beds1 no applications for a renewal of the leases were made when the first ones expired4 ,no change in the condition at ,essex may be hoped for until there is some evidence that a law protecting the planter will be strictly enforced4 ,with proper protection1 a great industry might1 and probably would1 be quickly established1 not only in ,essex1 but in any region where clam flats are now unproductive because of excessive digging4 ,protection ,necessary4--,the same lack of protection which ruined the ,essex clam experiments has been the cause of similar failures in other shore towns4 ,as long as no protection is given1 clam farming can never become possible1 as the whole success of the enterprise depends wholly upon the planter's having complete control of his land4 ,the present law gives absolutely no protection1 as according to the old free beach law a person has a right to dig a mess of clams anywhere between the tide lines1 no matter whether natural or planted4 ,this practically discourages clam farming1 however profitable1 as no clammer is going to the labor and expense of planting clams1 if the next person who comes along has a legal right to dig as many as he pleases4 ,until a law is passed which gives to the clam planter absolute protection from this sort of trespassing1 and does away with the antiquated free fishing law1 clam culture can never become a successful industry4 ,present ,clam ,culture4--,in #aijf grants of barren flats were again issued for the purpose of clam culture in ,essex1 and this time the attempt seemed successful4 ,two things encouraged this3 the excellent results of the experiments in ,essex ,river by the ,commission on ,fisheries and ,game1 and the possible results indicated by the experiments of #ahhh4 ,the only protection for these clam grants is by public sentiment1 and the mutual agreement of all the clammers to respect the rights of the individual4 ,so far there has been no trouble from trespassing and the lack of protection1 which caused the failure of first attempts4 ,it is hoped that these clam farms will become permanently successful1 despite the lack of protection1 as they will greatly increase the production of the ,essex clam flats4 ,clam ,farming and ,agriculture4--,the comparison between clam farming and agriculture is very close1 and both possess many common features1 though there are several points of difference4 ,the clam obtains its sustenance entirely from the water1 while agricultural products obtain their nourishment chiefly from the soil4 ,the nitrogenous waste products of the land washed into the streams furnish the nourishment to the little marine plants 7diatoms7 on which the clams feed4 ,rate of ,growth of the ,clam4--,the report of the ,commission on ,fisheries and ,game for the year #aijf contains the following statements3-- ,what is the natural growth of the clam per year8 ,there is great diversity in the growth of the clam1 owing to the location in respect to three essential conditions1--current1 length of time submerged1 and soil4 ,the following figures give briefly the general trend of results from numerous experimental beds under great variety of conditions4 ,for simplicity1 a #a-;inch clam is taken as the standard4 ,a #a-;inch clam will grow in one year to a size between #b and #c inches4 ,under fairly favorable conditions1 with a moderate current1 a #a-;inch clam will increase to #b inches1 or a gain of #ijj per cent1 in volume4 ,for every quart planted1 the yield in one year will be #i quarts4 ,for beds without current1 #a-;inch clams average about #b inches1 or a gain of #ejj per cent42 i4e41 five quarts for every quart planted4 ,beds under exceptionally fine conditions have shown the amazing return of #ae quarts for every quart of #a-;inch clams planted4 ,clams increased in these beds from #a to #c inches in length4 ,therefore1 by planting clams #a inch or over1 under favorable conditions a marketable clam can be produced in one year4 ,what is the maximum production per square foot8 ,the number of clams per square foot that can be raised to the best advantage depends upon the location of the flat in respect to natural conditions4 ,clams thickly planted 7#ae to #bj per square foot7 in favorable locations may show a greater growth than when thinly planted 7#e per square foot7 in less favorable locations2 therefore1 no definite statement can be made which will apply in all cases4 ,the only rule that can be given is that a flat with a current will produce a greater number of clams per square foot than one without a current4 ,on good flats clams can be planted conveniently and economically from #aj to #ae per square foot1 or even a larger number4 ,what results can be obtained by planting on barren flats8 ,there are two groups of flats which come under the term barren3 7#a7 flats which once produced clams in great numbers1 but now are practically barren1 except for an occasional clam here and there2 7#b7 flats which never have produced clams1 and on which for physical reasons clams can never grow4 ,the first group of flats is alone considered in this answer4 ,experimental beds were planted on certain flats in the ,essex ,river which come within the first group of barren flats4 ,these once productive flats had been cleaned out in the past1 and for some reason had not seeded naturally4 ,forty beds were laid out under all kinds of conditions1 with the object of finding a way to make these once more productive4 ,results have been all that could be hoped for4 ,only #d poor beds were found1 out of the #dj laid out2 #cf beds were in thriving condition4 ,it should be noted that no attempt was made to choose the best places1 but all conditions were tried4 ,over two-thirds of the clams were re-dug1 the increase averaging1 in terms of #a-;inch clams1 over #a1jjj per cent41 or #aj quarts for every quart planted the year before4 ,if many acres of ,massachusetts flat1 idle at present1 are capable of such a yield1 should such economic waste be allowed8 ,why should not the towns1 by the expenditure of a little money1 restock flats such as these for the benefit of their inhabitants8 ,i do not say that all flats can be made productive in this way1 as ,i know of many cases where the mere sowing of seed clams will not restock a flat2 but ,i do say that ,massachusetts possesses enough flats of the former nature1 which should be made a profit to her clammers4 ,clam set occurs1 as ,mr4 ,stevenson shows in his report1 in large quantities2 the transportation of seed clams is easy2 planting requires little labor1 the practical way being to sow the clams1 which burrow readily2 while the yield in proportion to the labor is enormous4 ,what sized clams are best for planting8 ,the size best adapted must be determined for each flat4 ,shore flats with little current will allow the planting of any size1 from inch up2 flats with a swift current necessitate a larger clam 7#a to #a inches71 as the smaller will be washed out of its burrow2 soft mud also demands a larger clam1 as the smaller will be stifled by the oozy silt4 ,what are the physical conditions that influence the growth of clams8 ,there appear at least three essential conditions for rapid growth of clams3 7#a7 a good current2 7#b7 low and level flat2 and 7#c7 a tenacious soil1 relatively free from decaying matter4 ,a low flat gives the clams longer feeding periods1 as the water remains over them longer1 therefore there is a greater growth4 ,this has been experimentally shown by ,dr4 ,a4 ,d4 ,mead4 ,according to ,prof4 ,j4 ,l4 ,kellogg1 clams cannot do well in a soil which contains much decaying organic matter1 as the acids eat away the shells4 ,soils of this description also facilitate the spread of infection from one clam to another4 ,current is the chief essential for successful clam culture4 ,the term current does not imply a rapid flow of water1 but rather a good circulation of water over the flat4 ,in the ,essex and ,ipswich rivers the clam flats have a continuous current4 ,on such flats the growth is more rapid than on flats which have no circulation of water1 in addition to the mere rise and fall of the tide4 ,the current performs the work of 7#a7 keeping the flats clean and carrying away all contamination1 but its most important work is as 7#b7 food carrier4 ,value of a ,clam ,farm4--,the value of an acre of clam flats1 if properly cultivated1 is about #dej per year for the average clam flat4 ,many of the more productive flats will yield a far greater amount1 while others will not yield as much4 ,it has been often erroneously stated that an acre of clam flats would produce #a1jjj per year4 ,this is a decided overestimation1 as it would be hardly possible for the most productive flat to yield that amount4 ,it is possible1 however1 for a good flat to yield about #gej per year1 but this is only under the most favorable conditions4 ,such yields as these are large for the clammer1 whose average yearly income is only #djj 7a few of the more expert clammers make possibly #gjj to #gej71 and a man possessing a clam farm of #a to #b acres would make a good living4 ,method of operating a ,clam ,farm3 choosing the ,ground4--,in choosing a grant1 the planter should have in mind three things3 7#a7 the accessibility of the grant1 for his own convenience1 and nearness to the market1 as much of the success of clam farming depends upon the expense of marketing the product1 and the ease with which it can be disposed of2 7#b7 the length of time allowed for labor by the exposure of the flat 7flats vary greatly in the amount of time exposed each tide1 the low flats being submerged nearly all the time1 and the high flats having a much longer exposure71--a high flat possesses the advantage of allowing a longer working period for the clammer2 7#c7 the natural facilities of the flat itself as regards the growth of clams4 ,moreover1 the flat should be chosen in regard to 7#a7 soil2 7#b7 current2 7#c7 tide4 ,a good flat should have a soil which is tenacious and compact1 affording at the same time easy digging4 ,probably the best soil is a mixture of fine sand and mud in a ratio of one-third mud to two-thirds sand1 as this amount of mud gives the right degree of tenacity4 ,the growth of a clam depends upon the circulation of water over the flat1 as the current carries the food1 and1 therefore1 the more current the more food for the clams4 ,current also keeps the bed clean1 and prevents contamination and disease from spreading among the clams4 ,then1 again1 the growth of a clam depends upon the amount of water over the bed2 i4e41 length of time covered4 ,the clam can only feed when the tide is over the bed1 and thus the feeding time is limited for the higher flats4 ,while experiments have shown that clams grow faster when continually under water than when exposed part of the time1 the question of tide is not so great a factor as that of current in regard to clam growth1 and can be almost disregarded4 ,the best flat for clam planting is a fairly high flat with a good current over it1 as it gives nearly as rapid growth and a much longer period to dig than a flat which is exposed only a short period4 ,this flat must have the right kind of soil1 which must not be shifting sand or too soft mud1 but a compact1 tenacious mixture4 ,the ,seed ,clams4--,nature has provided the means of stocking these farms4 ,the set of clams is usually restricted to certain localities1 which1 however1 vary from time to time1 and heavy sets are found in limited areas4 ,these sets run as thick as #b1jjj per square foot of surface1 occasionally covering an area of #c acres4 ,from these natural set areas the natural clam flats are partially restocked by the washing out of the small clams4 ,more often these whole sets are wasted1 as the clams1 instead of washing on the good flats1 are carried to unproductive places and consequently perish4 ,thus there are areas of heavy set which are of no use to any one1 as practically all the clams perish before they become adults4 ,these areas of heavy set occur in nearly every harbor of the coast to a greater or less extent1 and are available for nearly every town4 ,the problem now is to make use of these large sets1 and not allow them to go to waste4 ,it has been shown that these clams when transplanted will grow much faster1 and will not perish2 therefore1 clam farming offers both the possibility of saving these natural sets and utilizing barren ground4 ,methods of spat collecting have been constantly referred to in connection with clam farming1 especially by the ,rhode ,island ,fish ,commission1 and the impression has been given that clam farming can never become a success until some practical method of spat collecting has been found4 ,with the soft clam there is no need of any method of spat collecting1 as the natural set is more than sufficient for restocking the barren flats4 ,all that is necessary is to utilize the enormous natural sets4 ,if this is done1 the barren flats of ,massachusetts can be made productive4 ,the main difficulty is in devising some method of obtaining the small clams with sufficient rapidity4 ,as the nature of the soil and the size of the clams vary1 no one method can apply to every case1 and it depends upon the ingenuity of the clammer4 ,the methods used at present are3 7#a7 digging with an ordinary clam hoe1 which is slow work2 7#b7 digging in shallow water1 so that the clams may be washed out2 7#c7 digging a series of trenches across the heavy set area1 and scooping out the clams washed in these trenches2 7#d7 carrying both sand and clams by the dory load2 7#e7 by using a sieve1 in the form of a cradle1 which washes the clams out in the water4 ,this last method is the most successful for small clams1 and has been used by the commission in obtaining seed clams for their experimental beds4 ,by using a cradle #c by #b feet1 covered with sand wire netting1 clams which ran #c1jjj per quart1 were obtained by #c men at the rate of #b bushels an hour1--an amount sufficient to plant from #a_/be to #a_/aj of an acre4 ,another problem of importance is the transportation of seed clams1 as in many instances the clams will have to be carried some distance4 ,the best method of shipping seed clams is to pack them dry in damp sea weed1 putting them in small packages1 so they will not be crushed by their own weight4 ,the best though most expensive method is to pack the clams in crates1 such as are used for strawberries4 ,it has been found that clams kept in water are not in such good condition as those shipped dry1 and it is of the utmost importance that the clams be in good condition when planted4 ,the length of time a clam will live out of its natural element depends upon the temperature2 in cold weather it will keep for several days1 and even weeks2 while in warm weather the seed clam will be in poor condition after one day's exposure4 ,preparing the ,grant4--,usually the ground needs no preparation1 and the clams can be planted at once4 ,it is a good plan to remove any mussels and any of the enemies of the clam from the grant4 ,planting the ,clams4--,the planting of the seed clams is perhaps the easiest work of the clam culturist1 as it necessitates merely the sowing of the seed on the surface of the flat4 ,the small clams when left this way burrow into the ground as soon as the water is over them1 and require no planting on the part of the culturist4 ,working the ,farm4--,this style of farming requires no cultivation for the growth of the clams4 ,once planted1 the farmer has no further work until the time when he is ready to dig them4 ,the clams grow better when undisturbed than when the soil is upturned by frequent digging4 ,protection from man and the natural enemies of the clam demand the attention of the owner at all times4 ,harvesting the ,clams4--,the time of digging will vary as to the size of clam desired and the rate of growth on the grant4 ,the clam farmer can cater to a particular trade by regulating the size of the clams marketed4 ,he may find it more profitable to market a small clam after a short period of growth1 or vice versa1 on the same principle that a farmer raises hogs for the market4 ,north of ,boston1 in localities favorable for fast growth1 such as the ,essex and ,ipswich rivers1 by planting large seed of at least l inches in the spring1 marketable clams of #b to #c inches can be obtained in the fall after six months' growth4 ,here the clams grow only during the summer months1 and nothing would be gained by leaving them over winter4 ,in this way a crop each year can be raised on these farms4 ,in other localities of slower growth it will take from eighteen to twenty-four months to raise a crop4 ,the clam farmer will have to regulate the size of the seed and length of growth to best suit the needs of his farm4 ,advantages of ,clam ,farming4--,clam culture possesses several advantages over the old free-for-all digging3 7#a7 steadier returns2 7#b7 easier work2 7#c7 better pay2 7#d7 more clams per man4 ,if the clammers of the ,commonwealth only realized these facts they would make a united effort toward clam culture4 ,history4 ,i4 ,early ,history4--,the history of the ,massachusetts clam industry began in obscurity4 ,even before the time of the earliest settlers the native ,indians depended largely upon this abundant mollusk for their food supply1 as is clearly indicated by the scattered shell heaps which mark their ancient camp fires4 ,upon the arrival of the ,pilgrims1 clam digging was incorporated among the most time-honored industries of the ,commonwealth1 and in times of want the early colonists depended largely upon this natural food supply4 ,with the arrival of the colonists really began the first epoch of the clam fishery as an economic factor in this ,commonwealth1 a period which lasted nearly two hundred years4 ,this period marked the exploitation of clam grounds merely for home consumption4 ,money was scarce1 inland markets were practically unknown1 and the importance of this shellfish was confined merely to local quarters4 ,,ii4 ,rise of the ,bait ,industry4--,early in the last century a growing demand for clams as bait for the sea fisheries became apparent4 ,clams had always been utilized for this purpose more or less1 but an increased demand called for the development of an important industry in this line4 ,various centers of activity were established1 particularly at ,newburyport1 ,essex1 ,ipswich1 ,boston harbor and ,chatham4 ,the clams were mainly shucked1 that is1 removed from the shell1 and shipped either fresh or salted in barrels to the fishermen at ,gloucester1 ,boston and ,provincetown4 ,this industry opened up new fields of employment for many men and boys1 and brought considerable ready money into various coast communities4 ,,iii4 ,the ,development of ,inland ,markets4--,the consumption of clams for food in the coast towns continued throughout the rise and gradual decline of the bait industry1 but the creation of inland markets did not begin to be an important factor until #ahge4 ,it was about this time that the clam came to be generally looked upon throughout the ,state as an article of food1 and consequently an important industry was gradually evolved to meet this growing demand4 ,this step marked the beginning of the extensive fishery of the present day4 ,the mistaken policy of the average shellfish community1 which regarded clam grounds as natural gardens of inexhaustible fertility1 still persisted even after the fallacy of this policy had long proved apparent through the depletion of extensive tracts4 ,the same ill-advised methods were pursued to the ultimate ruination of much valuable territory4 ,all wise regard for the future was overshadowed by the immediate needs of the present2 local legislation fostered the evil2 ,state legislation was conspicuous by its absence2 and1 left to the mercy of unsystematic overdigging1 these natural resources rapidly wasted away4 ,the disastrous tendencies which have lurked in the ruling policy of the clam fishery have been shown in the rise and fall of the industry in certain localities4 ,forty years ago ,duxbury and ,plymouth ranked as the greatest clam towns of the coast4 ,their supply has long since become insignificant4 ,newburyport and ,ipswich have become the chief producers of the ,state clam harvest2 but ,essex and ,gloucester1 in the same fertile regions1 have greatly declined1 and the industry at ,rowley has become nearly extinct4 ,in the ,fall ,river district the digging of small seed clams for food has brought the fishery to the verge of ruin4 ,the few resources of ,buzzards ,bay have become nearly exhausted1 while on ,cape ,cod the industry has shown here and there a temporary increase1 overshadowed by a far more extensive decline1 such as at ,chatham4 ,furthermore1 the sewage contamination of coast waters in the harbors of ,boston and several other large cities have closed extensive regions for the production of food4 ,,iv4 ,attempts to develop the ,industry4--,various efforts have been made to restrain overdigging the clam flats1 by local regulations1 particularly by close seasons4 ,these attempts have been productive of little good4 ,other efforts1 designed to develop extensive tracts made barren by wasteful methods of fishing1 have been put in operation4 ,these efforts have been along two independent lines3 the first1 an effort on the part of the community to seed in common flats by the appropriation of money for that purpose1 as in the case of ,wellfleet2 the second1 an attempt to arrive at the same end by leasing private grants to individuals1 as at ,essex and ,plymouth4 ,these efforts1 while tending in the right direction1 have not as yet yielded the results that might be wished for4 ,within the past three years the ,state has taken hold of the problem1 and by an extensive series of experiments is endeavoring to devise practical means of developing the great inherent possibilities in this extensive industry4 ,,clam ,,production ,,table ,,for ,,massachusetts1 ,,obtained ,,from ,,the ,,reports ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,,fish ,,commission4 ,,year4 ,bushels4 ,value4 ,price per ,bushel 7,cents74 ---------------------------------------- ----- #ahhj1 #aeh1fbf #gf1aie #da4gc #ahhg1 #bcj1fei #aba1bjb #eb4ed #ahhh1 #bdc1ggg #abg1hch #eb4dd #ahhi1 #bdj1hca #acg1gaa #eg4ad #ahib1 #aia1ibc #acc1ebi #fi4eg #ahih1 #adg1jie #ajb1eid #fi4gd #aijb1 #bbg1ida #aeg1bdg #fh4ih #aije1 #bag1eai #bji1ede #if4ai ,the ,clam ,industry4 ,methods of ,digging4--,the ordinary method of taking clams is so simple as hardly to need explanation4 ,although simple1 clam digging requires considerable skill1 and it takes years of experience to become a good clammer4 ,there are two methods of clam digging used in ,massachusetts1--the wet and the dry digging4 ,wet digging is carried on when water is over the clam beds2 dry digging1 which is the common method1 takes place when the flats are left exposed by the tides4 ,the only places in ,massachusetts where wet digging is carried on regularly are ,eastham1 ,chatham1 ,swansea1 and in ,katama ,bay1 ,edgartown4 ,in the lower end of ,katama ,bay is found a submerged bed of clams which is one of the most productive beds of this class in ,massachusetts4 ,these submerged clams are taken with what is known locally as a sea horse1 which is an enlarged clam hoe1 with prongs #ab to #ad inches long1 and a strong wooden handle four feet in length4 ,this handle has a belt attachment which is buckled around the clammer4 ,two men are required for this work4 ,the sea horse is worked deep into the loose sand and is dragged along by one man1 who wades in the shallow water over these submerged flats1 while his partner follows1 gathering the clams which the sea horse roots out4 ,another method of wet digging is called churning1 and is based on the same principle as the above method1 only the clams are turned out under water by long forks or hoes4 ,this method is not used in ,massachusetts to any extent4 ,excellent results are usually obtained from wet digging4 ,the methods used in dry digging depend upon the nature of the soil4 ,the difference lies only in the kind of digger4 ,the clam hoe of the south shore1 where the soil is either coarse sand or gravel1 has broad prongs1 some even being #a inches across4 ,the usual number of prongs is four1 but occasionally three broad prongs suffice4 ,the clam hoe of the north shore1 often called hooker1 has four thin1 sharp prongs and a short handle4 ,the set of this handle is a matter of choice with the individual clammers1 some preferring a sharp1 acute angle1 and others a right angle4 ,this style of clam hoe is best suited for the hard1 tenacious clam flats of the north shore4 ,at ,essex spading forks are used for clamming1 but not as extensively as the hooker4 ,for sand digging the forks are said to be better1 while for mud digging the hooker is preferred4 ,outfit of a ,clammer4--,the outfit of a clammer does not require much outlay of capital4 ,a skiff or dory1 one or two clam hoes and three or four clam baskets complete the list4 ,occasionally1 as at ,ipswich1 where the clam grounds are widely scattered1 power dories are used1 and this necessitates the investment of considerable capital2 but the investment of the average clammer does not exceed #bf4 ,personal apparel1 such as oilskins and boots1 are not considered under this head4 ,,clamming ,,outfit4 ,skiff dory1 #bb4jj ,two clam diggers1 #a4ej ,four clam baskets1 #b4jj ------ ,total1 #be4ej ,the boats most often used by the north shore clammers are called skiff dories1 and in construction are between a dory and a skiff4 ,these boats are especially adapted for use in rivers4 ,marketing4--,clams are shipped to market either in the shell or shucked out4 ,two rules are followed by the clammers in making this distinction3 7#a7 small clams1 or steamers1 are shipped in the shell1 especially during the summer months1 while the large clams are shucked2 7#b7 the fine-appearing sand clam is usually sold in the shell1 while the unprepossessing mud clam is shucked1 i4e41 the shell and the external covering of the siphon or neck are removed4 ,this causes on the north shore a division by locality4 ,the ,ipswich and ,essex clams1 except for a few individual orders1 are mostly shipped to market in the shell1 while the ,annisquam ,river and ,newburyport clams are usually shucked in the winter4 ,little if any shucking is done by the south shore clammers4 ,shucking almost doubles the value1 as a bushel of clams1 worth in the shell #ge cents1 will furnish1 when soaked1 about #aj quarts of shucked clams1 which bring about #ej cents per gallon1 or a total of #a4be when marketed4 ,the shucked clams are put through a process of soaking in the same way the scallop eyes are treated before marketing4 ,they absorb a sufficient quantity of fresh water1 after soaking six hours1 to increase their bulk about one-third and give a plump appearance to the clams4 ,while many clammers do not soak their clams1 it seems to be a universal tendency1 wherever clams are shucked1 to gain by this method4 ,soaking of any sort impairs the flavor of the clam1 and for this reason such a practice is to be deplored1 but as long as the consumer is satisfied to take second-rate goods1 this practice will continue1 and it can be stopped only by the united demand of the shellfish dealers4 ,shipment4--,second-hand flour and sugar barrels are used for the shipment of clams in the shell1 while kegs and butter tubs hold the shucked clams4 ,in winter clams can be shipped inland without perishing2 but in hot weather they will spoil in a few days1 unless iced4 ,maine ,clams4--,massachusetts annually consumes many thousand barrels of ,maine clams4 ,if the demand of the ,boston market were not partially met by the influx of ,maine clams1 the clam flats of ,massachusetts would be subject to a greater drain4 ,market4--,the principal market for the clam industry of ,massachusetts is ,boston4 ,gloucester1 ,newburyport1 ,salem and ,lynn draw part of the clam trade of the north shore1 but the greater portion goes to ,boston1 whence it is distributed throughout the ,state4 ,in recent years shipments have been made from the ,ipswich ,bay region direct to ,new ,york1 ,baltimore and ,philadelphia4 ,price4--,the price of clams is fairly constant1 varying but little in summer and winter4 ,naturally1 this seems curious1 when winter and summer clamming are compared4 ,the production in winter is much smaller than in summer1 which is due to 7#a7 fewer clammers1 because of the severe work in cold weather2 7#b7 less working days1 as the clammer is often unable to dig for weeks1 and even months1 and also cannot work early or late tides1 as in summer4 ,in spite of this diminution of supply1 the winter price is practically no higher4 ,this is due to a smaller demand in winter1 as well as to the influx of the ,maine clams at this season4 ,in summer there is an increased demand for clams1 caused by the arrival of the summer people at the seashore2 and large quantities of this shellfish are used by hotels1 cottages1 etc4 ,this increase in demand is enough to offset the increase in supply1 resulting in a stationary price4 ,the price varies as to the quality of the clams1 whether soaked or unsoaked1 small or large1 good or poor looking shells1 and fresh or stale4 ,the average price as received by the clammer for clams in the shell is #ge cents per bushel2 shucked clams1 when soaked1 #de-ej cents per gallon4 ,arrangement of ,towns4 ,owing to the peculiarities of the different localities1 it has been impossible to satisfactorily arrange the towns alphabetically4 ,therefore1 in order to present local comparisons1 they have been arranged in geographical order1 starting at the northern boundary of the ,state4 ,salisbury4 ,salisbury1 the most northerly town in the ,state1 has a good clam territory1 very similar to that of ,newburyport1 though much smaller in area4 ,almost all the clam ground1 and practically all the very good digging1 is comprised in a single flat1 which extends along the northerly bank of the ,merrimac for nearly #b miles4 ,this flat is about #ijj feet wide1 on an average1 and has a total area of #baf acres4 ,on the eastern end1 and skirting the channel1 it is sandy2 but for the most part it is mud throughout1 varying from a hard1 smooth surface in the middle portion to a soft1 scummy soil on the west4 ,about #ajj acres in the central section of this flat are covered with a thick set of clams1 especially from #a to #b inches4 ,this territory furnishes the bulk of the good digging1 and is being constantly turned over and the larger clams sorted out4 ,roughly speaking1 the main east half of the flat is sandy1 or hard mud1 with very good clamming1 the western half softer mud1 with fair or scattering clams4 ,this is an exceptionally fine natural clam flat1 and if properly cultivated its production would be immensely increased4 ,at the eastern extremity of the flat a long1 narrow cove extends in a general northerly direction into the main land4 ,this cove1 including the outer fringing bars1 contains some #cd acres of flats1 for the most part sandy and rather poorly productive1 though no considerable area is anywhere strictly barren4 ,the combined clam flat territory of the town aggregates #bej acres1 comprising #aej acres of good clamming and #ajj acres of scattering clams2 of these1 #baf acres are of mud and #cd acres of sand4 ,while the town records show #ff licensed clammers1 only about #ej make clamming their chief occupation4 ,the industry is carried on in much the same manner as at ,newburyport2 #fbe is invested in boats and implements1 and some #ae1jjj bushels of clams1 aggregating #af1ejj1 are annually produced4 ,the clam industry at ,salisbury is largely stationary as regards available territory1 while the production varies considerably from year to year4 ,there is little or no town legislation affecting the industry1 except the issuing of permits by the selectmen4 ,these permits cost #be cents1 and are required from every clammer4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #ff ,capital invested1 #fbe ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #ae1jjj ,value1 #af1ejj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand #cd ,mud1 #baf ,gravel1 - ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #bej ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #aej ,scattering clams1 #ajj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 - ,waste barren area 7acres71 - ,possible normal production1 #gj1jjj ,newburyport4 ,newburyport is pre-eminently the clam town of ,massachusetts4 ,it produces the most clams1 gives employment to the most men1 and has on the whole the finest flats4 ,the total clam-growing area of this town comprises about #a1jhj acres2 of this1 some #hjj acres are more or less productive1 while the balance1 #bhj acres1 is practically nonproductive4 ,scattering clams exist everywhere1 so there are1 properly speaking1 no truly barren flats4 ,the flats of ,newburyport1 broad1 level and continuous1 are peculiarly adapted to clam culture4 ,the general type of soil is mud1 varying from a soft1 sticky variety on the west coast1 and also along the shores of ,plum ,island1 to a firm1 hard surface in the great middle section north of ,woodbridge's ,island1 where clams flourish most abundantly and furnish the best digging within the city limits4 ,here nearly #ajj acres are covered with a heavy set of #a to #b inch clams4 ,altogether there are some #icj acres of this mud4 ,much of this1 especially to the west and south1 is apparently unfavorable to clams1 being soft and unwholesome1 but even here at certain seasons clams are dug extensively4 ,the sand flats include the shifting ,hump sands that fringe the ,merrimac channel and the ,cove on ,plum ,island4 ,these and other minor sections comprise about #aej acres4 ,the ,hump sands are quite productive4 ,the other sand flats are not entirely barren1 but practically unutilized4 ,the clam industry at ,newburyport furnishes employment for about #age men1 although over #bjj depend upon it for some portion of their income4 ,the season lasts the year round1 though on account of storms and ice the winter's work is rather uncertain4 ,a good fisherman will1 under favorable circumstances1 dig several bushels of clams at a tide1 though the ordinary man will probably not average more than a bushel and a half1 taking the whole year into account4 ,the outlay of capital invested is comparatively small4 ,a flat-bottom boat or dory1 a clam hoe or two1 and three or four wire-bottom baskets1 constitute a clammer's outfit1 costing altogether perhaps #ae or #bj4 ,as two or more men frequently go in one boat1 even this expenditure may be reduced4 ,the shore property in use1 consisting of from #h to #aj shanties1 is also inconsiderable4 ,several power boats are used1 however1 and their added cost brings the aggregate money invested up to about #b1gjj4 ,the flats of ,newburyport are a large factor in its economic wealth4 ,during #aijg they produced nearly #ee1ejj bushels of clams1 exceeding #fa1jjj in value4 ,nearly two-thirds of these clams were shucked1 that is1 removed from the shell and sold by the gallon4 ,in this form1 usually soaked to increase their volume1 they retail for about #de cents per gallon4 ,as clams in the shell1 sold for steamers1 etc41 will hardly bring more than #fe cents per bushel1 the process of shucking nearly doubles the value to the fisherman1 as a bushel of clams in the shell will produce from #b to #c gallons of soaked clams4 ,the income of the average clammer will hardly exceed #cej per year1 but a really energetic and industrious fisherman may in the same time make from #ejj to #gjj1 or even more4 ,many of the men have individual orders from dealers in ,lynn1 ,haverhill and the neighboring cities1 while the local dealers ship largely to ,boston4 ,the regulation of the industry by city ordinance is of very little note4 ,practically the only legislation pertaining to it is the law which requires every clammer to have a permit1 but even this regulation is but indifferently enforced4 ,the ,newbury flats are likewise free to the ,newburyport clammers1 and part of the ,newburyport production comes from these outside flats4 ,the history of the clam industry at ,newburyport is one of constant change4 ,twenty years ago large areas on southwest ,joppa were practically barren2 now they are quite productive4 ,the reverse is true of ,ball's flat on ,plum ,island1 which1 though once of great importance1 is now almost waste4 ,though no serious inroads have as yet been made1 a slow but steady decline in the industry is distinctly noticeable4 ,,comparison ,,of #aijg ,,with #ahgi 7,,salisbury ,,and ,,newburyport74 ,,year4 ,production ,value4 ,men4 ,capital4 ,price 7,bushels74 per ,bushel4 #ahgi1 #bh1hjj #aa1ebj #fj #gej #j4dj #aijg1 #gj1ejj #gg1ejj #bda #c1cbe #a4aj ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #age ,capital invested1 #b1gjj ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #ee1ejj ,value1 #fa1jjj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #aej ,mud1 #icj ,gravel1 - ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #a1jhj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #hjj ,scattering clams1 #bhj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 - ,waste barren area 7acres71 - ,possible normal production1 #bej1jjj ,newbury4 ,the town of ,newbury has in itself no shellfish industry1 although there is an extensive area of suitable flats which are worked with equal rights by the ,newburyport clammers4 ,these flats comprise some #cfj acres1 and extend along both sides of ,plum ,island ,sound and ,parker ,river4 ,over #ajj acres of scattering clams occur1 though not in sufficient quantities for the most part to make very profitable digging4 ,the remainder1 some #bfj acres1 though almost all suitable for the production of large quantities of clams1 is practically barren4 ,the principal type of soil is mud1 and the mud flats comprise about #bej acres4 ,the flats of ,parker ,river and those in its immediate neighborhood1 however1 are largely sand1 and altogether they aggregate about #aaj acres4 ,of these1 the thoroughfare is practically the only one which furnishes clams in any quantity4 ,sections of the broad flats which border on ,plum ,island ,sound produce scattering clams of large size4 ,there is1 however1 no very good digging in town1 and no consistent effort seems ever to have been made to utilize the great wealth which lies dormant in the clam flat territory4 ,six ,newbury men dig intermittently in the summer1 and furnish some #cjj bushels1 worth about #bej1 for town trade4 ,however1 this does not take into consideration the amount taken from these flats by the ,newburyport clammers4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #f ,capital invested1 #ge ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #cjj ,value1 #bej ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #aaj ,mud1 #bej ,gravel1 - ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #cfj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #ajj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #bfj ,waste barren area 7acres71 - ,possible normal production1 #dj1jjj ,rowley4 ,rowley presents a more striking example of the decline in the shellfish industry than any other town in this region4 ,four hundred acres of good flats border ,plum ,island and ,rowley ,river within the town limits1 but of these only #bj at most are economically productive4 ,eighty acres more are not entirely barren1 though practically worthless1 while the remaining #cjj1 though almost all well adapted for clam culture1 are barren4 ,the main type of soil is sand1 and the sand flats1 for the most part in ,plum ,island ,sound1 comprise some #bej acres4 ,the remainder1 #aej acres1 is mostly mud in scattered sections along the ,rowley ,river and in patches on the main flats4 ,the only really productive flats are the little coves and creeks of ,rowley ,river and the ,knob ,reefs in ,plum ,island ,sound4 ,the ,knob ,reef clam grounds produce very large and fine clams1 which lie on the lower edge of the flat and are exposed only a short time every tide4 ,knob ,reefs also has the distinction of possessing probably the finest clam set of its size in the ,state1 which would furnish abundant opportunity for restocking all the barren ,rowley ,river flats1 if the town authorities had taken proper measures to transplant this seed4 ,as it is1 this extensive set1 too thick for good growth1 is rapidly wasting away4 ,the history of the industry is one of steady decline4 ,reliable evidence exists to show that almost all the flats of ,rowley once produced clams1 and that large areas now waste were formerly productive4 ,that these immense barren areas1 possessing such an enormous latent wealth1 should be allowed to remain thus unimproved1 is a most conclusive argument for the need of radical action4 ,no settled attempt1 however1 except for a single closed season in #aijf1 has ever been made by the clammers or town authorities to better the conditions1 or to check the decline in the productive territory that remains4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #ae ,capital invested1 #hjj ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #b1jjj ,value1 #a1ejj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #bej ,mud1 #aej ,gravel1 - ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #djj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #bj ,scattering clams1 #hj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #cjj ,waste barren area 7acres71 - ,possible normal production1 #fj1jjj ,ipswich4 ,ipswich is second only to ,newburyport in the production of clams1 and has perhaps even greater possibilities of development4 ,the clam territory of the two towns1 while nearly equal in extent1 is1 however1 markedly different in general characteristics4 ,the flats of ,newburyport1 while few in number1 are broad1 continuous1 and have a great degree of similarity throughout4 ,the flats of ,ipswich1 on the other hand1 are divided into a great number of relatively small sections1 widely diversified in character1 and scattered along an extensive coast line4 ,as these flats are in many respects the most interesting and important of any town in the ,state1 it seems well to examine them in detail4 ,four distinct divisions can be distinguished in the clam territory of this town3 ,ipswich ,river1 ,plum ,island1 ,green's ,creek and ,roger ,island1 and ,essex ,river flats4 ,taken in the order named1 the ,ipswich ,river has in itself a great variety of clam ground4 ,both sides of the river for nearly #c miles are fringed with bars1 mainly of mud though sandy near the mouth4 ,some of the mud flats are so soft that they are practically barren1 or given up largely to mussel beds2 while much of the sand1 as1 e4g41 the main portion of the ,high ,sands1 is too shifting to be valuable4 ,the larger part of these river flats are1 however1 productive4 ,the ,plum ,island division comprises ,lufkins1 ,point ,peter1 ,appletons1 ,foresides and several other minor flats4 ,of these1 ,lufkins is very important4 ,it occupies a semicircular depression on the coast of ,plum ,island1 and1 owing to its peculiar location1 the swift current which flows past its outer edge makes a double eddy at both ebb and flood tide4 ,these eddies sweep gently over its broad surface1 and deposit a fine silt which has made the characteristic soil a hard1 bluish clay4 ,this is the only important clay flat of this region4 ,the total area of ,lufkins is #df acres4 ,the outer border to the north is mud1 becoming soft2 to the south1 sandy4 ,the portion near shore is1 as has been stated1 a clayey soil1 and it is here that clams are found abundantly4 ,an exceptionally good set of #a to #b inch clams occupies from #c to #d acres of this portion4 ,though clams are numerous1 the exceeding hardness of the soil makes digging rather difficult4 ,point ,peter1 or ,p'int ,peter1 is also an important flat1 comprising altogether #bh acres1 though about #g acres of the outer portion extend far into the current1 and are of so shifting and sandy a nature as to be practically worthless4 ,most of the remainder is mud1 varying from sand and hard mud on the outside to soft mud in the creeks that lead into the main land4 ,the central portion of the flat is peculiarly adapted to the culture of clams1 however1 and is very productive4 ,appleton's flat comprises about #f acres of hard sand1 verging into mud1 thickly strewn with old clam shells4 ,it lies at the mouth of ,perkins and ,pine ,creeks1 which run for about a mile into the main land of ,plum ,island1 and contain nearly #be acres each of fairly productive mud flats4 ,appleton's is a valuable flat1 and the clams dug here are large4 ,the ,foresides is a thatch island a little over a mile in length1 lying in the mid channel of ,plum ,island ,sound4 ,the flats which surround it on all sides are practically all sand1 and comprise about #hj acres4 ,the whole western side is more or less productive1 though the outer edge1 where the strong cross currents of the channel sweep over1 is too much rippled to be suitable for clam growth4 ,the strip of sand along the northern and northeastern sides1 though rather narrow and limited in area1 is productive1 while most of the southeastern portion1 which projects far into the channel1 is barren and totally unadapted for soft clams1 though bedded with sea clams4 ,the productive sections of this flat are much dug1 and altogether it is one of the most important of the ,ipswich clam grounds4 ,the west coast of ,plum ,island ,sound1 comprising the ,green's ,creek and ,roger ,island territories1 extends from the ,ipswich to the ,rowley rivers4 ,this division contains the bulk of the waste and barren flats of the town1 although there is exceptionally good clamming in ,stacy's ,creek1 ,third ,creek and the ,nutfield4 ,the ,essex ,river region is rather remote for most of the clammers1 and hard to reach1 but furnishes on the whole some of the very best digging4 ,the three main flats of this division are the ,essex beach1 ,wheeler's1 and the ,spit4 ,essex beach has a very good set1 evenly sprinkled over the ridgy1 shifting bars that skirt the channel4 ,wheeler's is an irregular sand bar1 occupying about #gg acres4 ,fully one-half of this is very productive1 and in the main portion occurs another thick set very similar to that on ,essex beach4 ,the ,spit1 mainly sand or sandy mud1 lies in the three towns of ,ipswich1 ,essex and ,gloucester4 ,the whole area is some #cjj acres1 about a third lying within the town of ,ipswich4 ,this whole bar is so liable to change that any calculations based on its precise area or location are decidedly unreliable4 ,very good digging occurs1 however1 in limited areas on the north and west sides of the ,ipswich territory4 ,these four divisions comprise the clamming territory of ,ipswich1 and aggregate #igj acres1 of which #cij acres is sand and #ejj mud4 ,this also includes #ae acres of mussels scattered along ,ipswich ,river1 ,plum ,island and ,green's ,creek region1 and about #aj acres of eel grass in various localities4 ,over #hjj acres is more or less productive1 about half being good clamming4 ,about #ej regular clammers depend upon these flats for a living1 though #acf permits were issued in #aijg4 ,here1 owing to the greater distances to be traversed1 many power boats are used4 ,nearly #g1ejj is invested in the industry1 and #be1jjj bushels of clams1 at a valuation of #ah1gej1 are annually produced4 ,the relative decrease in price as compared with ,newburyport is due to the fact that shucking is not so extensively practised here4 ,the town laws merely require a permit from every clammer1 for which no charge is made4 ,such permit is issued at the discretion of the selectmen1 and requires of the recipient six months' residence in the town and two years in the ,state4 ,in past years the town has made several by-laws for the protection of shellfish1 chiefly in the nature of partial closed seasons2 but unfortunately considerable difficulty has been found in enforcing these excellent laws1 and the results have been far from satisfactory4 ,ipswich has jealously guarded the rights of its clam flats1 and has protected them in every way from the invasion of outsiders1 which in part accounts for the excellent condition of these flats1 which were originally deeded to the ,commoners by the ,crown1 and from them to the town4 ,ipswich is the only town in the ,commonwealth which has thus directly received its clam flats as its own property1 and naturally has done more to improve its natural clam resources than any other town in the ,state4 ,the history of the industry shows little change2 some few flats once considered worthless have been opened and utilized2 others once productive have been dug out and allowed to become waste4 ,on the whole1 the industry is following the trend of the shellfisheries everywhere1 and slowly but steadily declining4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #acf ,capital invested1 #g1ejj ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #be1jjj ,value1 #ah1gej ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #cij ,mud1 #ejj ,gravel1 #ee ,mussels and eel grass1 #be ,total1 #igj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #djj ,scattering clams1 #dbj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #abe ,waste barren area 7acres71 #be ,possible normal production1 #bjj1jjj ,essex4 ,essex1 while still ranking as an important clam-producing town1 has a very imperfect development of her shellfish resources4 ,the total clam flat area comprises some #fej acres1 and1 though scarcely more than #be acres can be considered as unfit for the growth of clams1 and consequently barren1 only a little more than half the remainder is at all productive1 and of this probably less than #aej acres yields any financial return4 ,in other words1 #cbe acres of good clam flat is allowed to remain practically barren4 ,the main type of soil is sand1 and nearly #ejj acres may be properly classed under this head4 ,the remaining #aej acres are mud1 and are located in the creeks along the river and in the coves north of ,hog ,island4 ,the productive sections are scattered for the most part along both sides of the ,essex ,river1 and well-developed areas are also found at its mouth and on the ,spit4 ,there are several good locations of seed clams4 ,one section of about #be acres occurs on the west side of the ,spit4 ,this is composed of #a to #b inch clams1 running #aj to #dj per square foot4 ,at the mouth of the river on the north side occurs another set of -inch clams1 covering about #aj acres4 ,on the flats west of ,cross ,island is found a third set of to #b inch clams1 comprising about #cj acres4 ,other smaller patches of set are scattered along the river almost up to its source4 ,about #ej men derive an income from these flats4 ,some #a1bjj is invested1 and the annual product exceeds #ae1jjj bushels1 valued at #ab1gej4 ,the town of ,essex has realized the importance of the clam problem1 and has attempted through legislation to deal with it4 ,the selectmen are empowered to grant to citizens of the town an area consisting of an acre or less on flats already barren1 for the purpose of raising clams1 and in this manner partially restock the flats4 ,a rental of #b is charged1 covering a period of five years1 and an additional fee of #ej cents is required for recording4 ,in spite of inadequate protection1 the experiment has been conducted long enough to prove that these flats can be made profitable to the clammers4 ,the history of the clam industry at ,essex is one of extensive decline4 ,there is every reason to believe that the greater part at least of the waste area was once very productive4 ,prof4 ,james ,l4 ,kellogg in the ,united ,states ,fish ,commission ,bulletin for #ahii1 says3-- ,we have much evidence that the clam industry in ,essex has1 in the past1 been extensive4444 ,much more testimony of a similar character may be had to show that the flats once very productive have almost entirely failed4 ,,comparison ,,of #aijg ,,with #ahgi4 #ahgi4 #aijg4 -------------------------------------- ,production 7bushels71 #ejj #ae1jjj ,value1 #d1ejj #ab1gej ,men1 #ge #ej ,capital1 - #a1bjj ,price 7cents71 #dj #he ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #ej ,capital invested1 #a1bjj ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #ae1jjj ,value1 #ab1gej ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #ejj ,mud1 #abe ,gravel1 - ,mussels and eel grass1 #be ,total1 #fej ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #aej ,scattering clams1 #aej ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #cbe ,waste barren area 7acres71 #be ,possible normal production1 #abj1jjj ,gloucester4 ,the far-celebrated deep sea fisheries of ,gloucester overshadow her humble shellfish industry2 but within her tidal flats lie undeveloped resources1 which if properly brought out would form no inconsiderable factor in her annual revenue4 ,even now her clam fishery attains considerable proportions1 though by no means what it once was1 or what it might be were suitable cultural methods employed4 ,the main areas of clam-producing territory lie in the ,annisquam ,river and in the ,essex ,river in ,west ,gloucester4 ,the grounds in the ,annisquam are the more productive4 ,this river is some #d miles long1 and is bordered for the greater part of this distance with tidal flats4 ,of these the sand flats predominate1 though there are large areas of mud and extensive beds of mussels4 ,on the extreme head of the river1 known as the ,dumfudgeon region1 dredging operations for the ,gloucester canal have somewhat impaired the flats1 but as a whole the river seems in every way suitable for the production of an abundant harvest of clams4 ,the flats of ,west ,gloucester1 including a portion of the ,essex ,spit1 are largely unproductive4 ,the ,spit is the only flat of any extent in this region which is at present of real economic value2 the remaining flats1 scattered along the south shore of the ,essex ,river and its tributary creeks1 are for the most part practically barren4 ,the total area of clam flats in ,gloucester approximates #eej acres4 ,of this1 some #bej acres are sand1 #bjj mud1 while there are about #ajj acres of mussels and eel grass1 which cannot be considered at all adapted for clam culture4 ,only a fraction of the whole1 #ge acres1 more or less1 is good clamming2 a scant #ajj acres produces scattering clams2 #bge acres are barren1 though capable of producing clams2 while #ajj acres may never be made productive4 ,eight men dig regularly on these flats the year round1 and #bc others work intermittently4 ,the capital invested amounts to over #fjj1 and the annual output exceeds #f1jjj bushels1 valued at #h1jjj4 ,most of the clams produced at ,gloucester are shucked either for market or bait4 ,local legislation has no bearing on the shellfish question1 and no effort is being made either to better conditions in the clam industry or to check its steady decline4 ,the industry has fallen off greatly in the past few years4 ,in #ahge there were #ij regular clammers1 and a man could dig #f bushels to a tide1 where now #h regular and #bc intermittent clammers find it difficult to get from #a bushels to #c bushels per tide4 ,,comparison ,,of #aijg ,,with #ahgi4 ,,year4 ,production ,value4 ,men4 ,capital ,price4 7,bushels74 ,invested4 ---------------------------------------- ----------- #ahgi1 #ac1igh #e1bjj #ib #b1jjj #j4dj #aijg1 #f1jjj #h1jjj #ca #fjj #a4cc ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #ca ,capital invested1 #fjj ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #f1jjj ,value1 #h1jjj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #bej ,mud1 #bjj ,gravel1 - ,mussels and eel grass1 #ajj ,total1 #eej ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #ge ,scattering clams1 #ajj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #bge ,waste barren area 7acres71 #ajj ,possible normal production1 #gj1jjj ,manchester4 ,manchester has a coast line so much exposed1 and consequently so small a territory of tidal flats1 that it is not surprising to find its clam industry of very insignificant proportions4 ,affairs are in much the same state of apathy as at ,beverly1 though ,manchester does not possess the resources of the former town1 and could not1 in the nature of the case1 carry on any extensive clam business4 ,its facilities1 however1 poor as they are1 are very imperfectly utilized2 hence the present state of depletion1 verging on absolute exhaustion4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 - ,capital invested1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #ajj ,value1 #ajj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #aj ,mud1 #aj ,gravel1 - ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #bj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #e ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #aj ,waste barren area 7acres71 #e ,possible normal production1 #b1jjj ,beverly4 ,beverly has practically no clam industry4 ,the area of tidal flats1 comprising nearly #ej acres1 is at present unprofitable and nearly worthless4 ,as at ,swampscott1 some clams still continue to be dug for bait and for local clam bakes1 but any evidence of a systematic business has long ceased to exist4 ,thirty years ago clams were far more abundant1 though there was never an extensive industry4 ,the town authorities require no licenses and make no efforts to revive the industry4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 ,capital invested1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #ajj ,value1 #ajj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #cj ,mud1 #bj ,gravel1 - ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #ej ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #aj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #cj ,waste barren area 7acres71 #aj ,possible normal production1 #e1jjj ,salem4 ,salem has far better natural advantages for clam culture than the other towns in its immediate vicinity1 and leads in clam production1 though the industry is of very inferior proportions4 ,seven men are at present employed in digging the harbor flats1 where the clams have very recently seeded in4 ,many of these clams1 though rather small1 are shucked1 and the remainder are sold in the local markets4 ,the entire value of the annual production does not exceed #bjj1 and the capital invested amounts to but #ge4 ,this is rather poor showing for #ajj acres of flats for the most part comparatively good1 and capable of yielding #aa1jjj annually4 ,the ,salem clammers dig also in the ,danvers ,river in the town of ,danvers4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #g ,capital invested1 #ge ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #bjj ,value1 #bjj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #ge ,mud1 #be ,gravel1 - ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #ajj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #e ,scattering clams1 #aj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #gj ,waste barren area 7acres71 #ae ,possible normal production1 #aa1jjj ,lynn4 ,the city of ,lynn has within its tidal flats the latent resources of an important industry4 ,its clam grounds could1 if properly utilized1 yield a great increase over their present inconsiderable return4 ,no legislation on the part of the city authorities has intervened to improve the shellfish production or to prevent the depletion of valuable territory which has been allowed to gradually lapse into an unsanitary desert4 ,while at low tide about #djj acres of flats spread over the broad harbor or border the banks of the ,saugus ,river1 but #dj acres of this wide expanse yield any appreciable revenue4 ,the principal part of the digging is done on the mud flats of the ,saugus ,river4 ,here #g fishermen work intermittently to supply the local market during the summer months4 ,there is some good territory at the mouth of the river toward the north1 and scattering clams occur along the eastern shores1 but the main flats of the harbor are for the most part barren4 ,the deposit of sewage from the city drainage has undoubtedly had a prejudicial effect on much of this area1 as the unpleasing scum which covers the soft1 sticky mud and eel grass bears abundant witness4 ,whether measures undertaken to reclaim this lost area would in the long run yield profitable returns is an undecided question1 but much might be done1 by the employment of judicious cultural methods1 to increase the yield of those flats which are properly productive4 ,no exact returns of the annual clam harvest for this region are obtainable1 as most of the output is disposed of at retail1 but it cannot exceed #a1jjj bushels1 and probably falls far short of that figure2 #a1jjj1 then1 or thereabouts1 represents the total monetary income from this fishery4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #g ,capital invested1 #ajj ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #a1jjj ,value1 #a1jjj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #ij ,mud1 #cjj ,gravel1 #e ,mussels and eel grass1 #e ,total1 #djj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #aj ,scattering clams1 #cj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #afj ,waste barren area 7acres71 #bjj ,possible normal production1 #bf1jjj ,saugus4 ,at ,saugus conditions in many respects parallel those at ,lynn4 ,the clam grounds1 while they by no means equal those of the neighboring city in area1 are on the whole better1 as they are freer from contaminating sewage4 ,of the #bej acres which comprise the normal tide flat area1 only #ajj acres1 or #dj per cent41 can be said to be strictly barren4 ,the remaining #aej acres is an undeveloped asset1 as its value lies far more in its prospects than in its present productivity4 ,while scattering clams occur throughout1 no more than #be acres can be accounted paying property4 ,this remunerative territory lies chiefly in the ,saugus ,river and in the vicinity of the ,point of ,pines4 ,here #aj men dig quite regularly1 particularly in the summer1 though none of them depend wholly upon this source of revenue for a livelihood4 ,the annual output equals that of ,lynn1 both in amount and valuation4 ,to these flats1 with their undeveloped resources1 local legislation gives practically no attention4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #aj ,capital invested1 #ajj ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #a1jjj ,value1 #a1jjj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #ajj ,mud1 #aej ,gravel1 - ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #bej ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #aj ,scattering clams1 #dj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #ajj ,waste barren area 7acres71 #ajj ,possible normal production1 #bb1jjj ,nahant4 ,although ,nahant has a large area of tidal flats1 it is not on the whole favorably located1 and much that would otherwise be available is necessarily waste4 ,the territory which borders the western coast is not barren1 but most of it is not productive enough to be profitable4 ,a few scattered sections repay the clammer for his labor1 and from these sections perhaps #cjj bushels a year are dug for home consumption4 ,four or five men are employed at intervals in the summer months1 but no one of them depends upon this source of income for more than transient employment1 as the entire value of the yearly harvest does not exceed #cjj4 ,as there are nearly #bej acres of flats in ,nahant1 this would be a revenue of #a4fj per acre1 on an average4 ,however1 this is not a fair comparison1 for much of the territory apparently available is1 as has been stated1 properly waste4 ,nevertheless1 an industry of far greater proportions than at present could be attained if wise legislation were directed to that end4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 - ,capital invested1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #cjj ,value1 #cjj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #ej ,mud1 #ajj ,gravel1 #ajj ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #bej ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #ej ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #aej ,waste barren area 7acres71 #ej ,possible normal production1 #be1jjj ,boston ,harbor4 ,owing to the danger arising from sewage contamination the ,state ,board of ,health1 on ,dec4 #f1 #aijf1 requested the ,department of ,fisheries and ,game to prohibit the digging of clams for market in ,boston harbor4 ,the region closed by this law lies to the west of an imaginary line running from ,point ,shirley through ,deer ,island to the northeastern end of ,peddocks ,island2 thence in a southwesterly direction to the extreme point of ,hough's ,neck4 ,this territory includes ,winthrop1 ,chelsea1 ,charlestown1 ,everett1 ,somerville1 ,cambridge1 ,boston1 ,east ,boston1 ,south ,boston1 ,dorchester1 ,neponset and ,quincy4 ,for convenience all the prescribed territory is treated under the head of ,boston harbor4 ,the action of the ,state ,board of ,health in closing ,boston harbor was necessitated by a due regard for the public health1 as it seemed inexpedient to allow clams dug from this territory and subject to sewage contamination to be marketed for food4 ,necessary as this act may have been1 the closing of #e1jjj acres of flats for the production of edible shellfish made valueless an important source of revenue1 and threw a large number of clammers out of employment4 ,some alleviation of these conditions has resulted through the granting of permits to take shellfish for bait from the prescribed waters1 thus furnishing a number of men with transient employment4 ,the value of the law1 however1 is almost completely nullified1 for the danger to the public health is actual1 and not imaginary4 ,under present conditions it is well-nigh impossible to make the necessary surveillance so complete as would be necessary to prove that clams dug for bait are not used as food4 ,further1 even in the digging and handling of shellfish in polluted waters there is positive danger of transmitting the germs by hands of the digger to his own mouth or to other persons4 ,the nature of the flats permit the division of ,boston harbor into three sections3 7#a7 the north shore1 7#b7 the south shore1 7#c7 and the islands4 7#a7 ,the northern coast of the harbor has extensive mud and sand flats1 covered for the most part with eel grass or scattered mussel beds4 ,much of the surface is a variety of pebbly gravel1 while but little of it appears to be good clam ground4 ,the mud flats are mostly covered with a sewage scum which renders them unsuitable for clams4 ,scattering clams are found throughout the entire region4 ,the immediate vicinity of ,snake ,island in ,winthrop and the cove on ,point ,shirley furnish fairly good clamming1 while clams are found in a greater or less degree upon the extensive flats of ,winthrop harbor4 ,the flats of the ,mystic ,river1 which are of a tenacious mud rather unwholesome in appearance1 in so far as they have not been encroached upon for building purposes1 possess scattered patches of very good digging1 and furnish transient employment to #bj or more men4 ,the flats in the ,charles and ,chelsea rivers likewise furnish fair clamming4 7#b7 ,the south shore of the harbor is much like the north1 except that the mud type of soil predominates4 ,the large flats1 mainly mud1 are not entirely barren though most of the clams are found in a narrow strip of beach along the shore4 ,at ,south ,boston as well as in ,dorchester ,bay clams are found in considerable numbers1 though nowhere are there any large areas of good clamming4 7#c7 ,the islands in the harbor are fringed with pebbly beach1 where scattering clams are usually found4 ,apple ,island and ,governor's ,island are surrounded with quite extensive flats1 which are1 however1 but sparsely productive4 ,much digging for bait is carried on constantly on these pebbly beaches4 ,history4--,boston harbor has been in the past a good clamming region1 as the magnitude of its available flats has rendered possible an extensive production4 ,naturally1 the closing of the harbor by the ,state ,board of ,health has limited the annual production of clams from this vicinity1 as now the only legal digging is for bait4 ,owing to this partial closed season the clams are said to have been on the increase during the last two years4 ,nevertheless1 before the passage of this act the fishery had already greatly declined4 ,the decline of the clam industry has been going on for years1 as even in #ahgi ,mr4 ,ernest ,ingersoll mentions3-- ,in ,boston harbor clams are much depleted1 owing to the fact that they are remorselessly dug the year through1 chiefly by a class of ignorant foreigners who go down the harbor for the purpose4 ,july and ,august are the most productive months1 there being a large demand for the clam bakes which picnic parties from the cities indulge in on the various beaches4 ,all the clams got in ,boston harbor are very small1 because they are allowed little chance to grow2 in ,march and ,april they are hardly worth eating4 ,,comparison ,,with #ahgi4 #ahig4 #aijg4 ,number of men1 #ij #cej ,annual production3-- ,bushels1 #dj1jjj #g1ejj ,value1 #bj1jjj #f1jjj ,number of dories1 #ej - ,capital invested1 #a1cej #b1bej ,in #ahgi ,a4 ,howard ,clark states3-- ,the towns around ,boston usually charge a license fee of #b a year for the privilege of taking clams4 ,the clams are in some cases bought up by small operators1 who team them into the city1 though the diggers sometimes bring them to the city and sell them to the dealers direct from their boats at the wharves4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of licenses1 #cej ,capital invested1 #b1bej ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #g1jjj ,value1 #e1ejj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #ejj ,mud1 #b1ejj ,gravel1 #a1jjj ,mussels and eel grass1 #a1jjj ,total1 #e1jjj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #ajj ,scattering clams1 #a1jjj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #ijj ,waste barren area 7acres71 #c1jjj ,possible normal production1 #ccj1jjj ,weymouth4 ,weymouth1 with its two rivers1 possesses an area of flats aggregating #bej acres4 ,the shores of ,fore ,river are stony1 but in spite of the hard digging clams are found in fair numbers4 ,the shores of ,back ,river are similar1 except for the mud flats on the channel1 which are either barren or but sparsely productive4 ,a few clams are dug for bait and home consumption4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men - ,capital invested1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #aej ,value1 #aej ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 - ,mud1 #aej ,gravel1 #hj ,mussels and eel grass1 #bj ,total1 #bej ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #cj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #ej ,waste barren area 7acres71 #agj ,possible normal production1 #aa1jjj ,hingham4 ,hingham has an area of tidal flats comprising nearly #fej acres4 ,the characteristic soil is of two kinds3 a marginal strip of pebbly beach extending the full length of the shore1 and the broad flats of ,hingham harbor and ,weir ,river1 with their extensive areas of mud1 eel grass and mussels4 ,the clamming territory is confined for the most part to this narrow strip fringing the shore1 though scattering clams are found in diminished numbers on the mud flats4 ,the shellfish industry of the town consists mostly in procuring clams1 mussels and cockles for bait4 ,clams are dug to some extent for home consumption and for the hotels at ,nantasket2 but the fishery is carried on in a desultory manner by a few men who dig when other work fails1 and who do not wholly depend on clamming for a livelihood4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 - ,capital invested1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels14 #bej ,value1 #bej ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #be ,mud1 #dej ,gravel1 #ajj ,mussels and eel grass1 #ge ,total1 #fej ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #ajj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 - ,waste barren area 7acres71 #eej ,possible normal production1 #bj1jjj ,hull4 ,the stony shores of ,hull offer but little suitable clam area1 though fair digging is found in the vicinity of ,hog ,island and in ,weir ,river4 ,the usual type of flat is a pebbly or gravel beach1 while near ,white ,head and ,weir ,river there are large mud areas4 ,clams are dug only for home consumption or for bait4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 - ,capital invested1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #ajj ,value1 #ajj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand - ,mud1 #bbe ,gravel1 #bjj ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #dbe ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #ej ,barren area possibly productive 7acres7 #ej ,waste barren area 7acres7 #cbe ,possible normal production1 #ae1jjj ,cohasset4 ,cohasset1 though possessing sufficient suitable area to support a clam fishery1 has no industry of any importance4 ,the greater part of the tidal flats are barren1 while the remainder are far from fertile4 ,the region immediately about ,white ,head and the territory opposite extending along ,barson's beach are the most productive1 while scattering clams are found in ,little ,harbor4 ,the total acreage of available flat exceeds #ajj acres4 ,of this1 #ij acres are wholly unproductive1 and the remainder1 #aj acres1 is not very valuable4 ,the main type of soil is sand1 though areas of mud are found in the coves4 ,there are no regular clammers1 though many clams are dug by the citizens of the town for their own use4 ,there has never been a clam industry worthy of the name at ,cohasset1 and the present state of apathy appears to be normal4 ,no local regulations of any kind govern the fishery4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 - ,capital invested1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #bjj ,value1 #bjj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #ej ,mud1 #ej ,gravel1 - ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #ajj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #aj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #dj ,waste barren area 7acres71 #ej ,possible normal production1 #f1jjj ,scituate4 ,there is no clam industry at ,scituate4 ,the selectmen of the town have forbidden all exportation of clams for market1 and consequently the few clams dug are utilized for home consumption4 ,the possibilities of a future clam industry at this town1 while not alluring1 give indications of some promise4 ,occasional clams are found on the shores of ,scituate harbor1 as well as its tributary creeks4 ,the main undeveloped resource lies1 however1 along the broad flats of the ,north ,river4 ,these flats undoubtedly constitute a considerable asset in the communal wealth1 and the action of the selectmen in maintaining a close season will tend to the restocking and consequent utilization of this territory4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 - ,capital invested1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #bjj ,value1 #bjj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #ej ,mud1 #de ,gravel1 #e ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #ajj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #bj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #dj ,waste barren area 7acres71 #dj ,possible normal production1 #h1jjj ,marshfield4 ,affairs at ,marshfield are in practically the same state of inactivity as at ,scituate4 ,the town has considerable natural advantages1 since the ,north ,river1 which formerly made a wide sweep to the south before emptying into the ocean1 has opened a new channel within the last ten years1 forming many acres of excellent clam ground4 ,a close season is maintained1 although there has been considerable discontent on the part of certain individuals relative to this policy of the selectmen4 ,a considerable quantity of clams1 probably not exceeding #bjj bushels per annum1 are dug for home consumption4 ,there are no shipments for market4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 - ,capital invested1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #bjj ,value1 #bjj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #dj ,mud1 #ej ,gravel1 #aj ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #ajj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #cj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #cj ,waste barren area 7acres71 #dj ,possible normal production1 #i1jjj ,duxbury4 ,the clam industry at ,duxbury has a peculiar interest1 owing to the many perplexing problems which it presents4 ,a vast extent of tidal flats1 far exceeding in area those of any other town in the ,state1 and in a measure suitable for the production of clams1 lie almost wholly barren4 ,the enormous territory comprised in these flats exceeds #c1ejj acres1 or1 roughly1 #e square miles4 ,this is greater than the combined clam area of ,salisbury1 ,newburyport1 ,ipswich1 ,essex and ,gloucester1 which is the finest territory in the ,state1 and produces most of the ,massachusetts clams4 ,duxbury1 with a greater area than all these towns1 dug in #aijg about #gjj bushels of clams1--an amount which could well have been produced from #b acres of ground4 ,an investigation into the history of the town shows us that this state of barrenness has not always existed4 ,there was a time when ,duxbury was justly celebrated for her shellfish1 as is still shown by the allusions to ,duxbury clams on the menus of many hotels and restaurants4 ,the dealers at ,taunton1 ,fall ,river and other ,massachusetts cities formerly sent to ,duxbury large orders for clams1 which were always forthcoming4 ,now1 as far as can be ascertained1 not a single barrel is shipped out of the town from year to year4 ,this transition from a state of prosperity to one of almost total barrenness is replete with interest1 and is difficult of solution4 ,doubtless several causes may have contributed to this general decline4 ,in the first place1 it is evident that the ,duxbury flats were never in so flourishing a state of production as those of the ,cape ,ann district4 ,this assumption is amply supported by historical records1 and it is also supplemented1 at least1 by the fact that a great per cent4 of the present territory is largely unfit for the production of clams in any quantity4 ,as these flats have changed scarcely at all for many years1 is it unreasonable to suppose that they ever have been very suitable since the first settlement of the country8 ,as for the historical records referred to1 the weight of evidence everywhere tends to prove that many years ago there was a fairly large output of clams yearly from ,duxbury4 ,but while this output was large in itself1 it was1 in proportion to the possible area1 exceedingly small4 ,mr4 ,ernest ,ingersoll states that in #ahgi there were yearly exported from ,duxbury #e1jjj bushels of clams4 ,at that time1 he says1 the industry had declined4 ,clamming was then prosecuted with no such vigor as at the present time1 for the price was low1 and the demand1 except for bait1 by no means excessive4 ,clams had not yet come to be looked on as such important articles of food as at present1 and the business of digging them as carried on then could have made little inroad on well-stocked flats4 ,the great probability is that only a small percentage of the whole territory was ever very productive4 ,an observer at the present time1 viewing from an eminence the flats of ,duxbury at low tide1 could not help being struck with the singular appearance which they present4 ,he would see spread out before him a broad expanse apparently of green meadows1 with long1 narrow streams of water winding in and out among them4 ,these seeming meadows1 stretching on mile after mile1 broken here and there by a patch of clear sand1 are the tidal flats of ,duxbury1 more than #b1gjj acres of which are covered with a thick growth of eel grass4 ,how many years this eel grass has covered the flats no one knows4 ,it shifts somewhat1 as the ice in winter sometimes plows up an immense surface1 stripping it of its green covering4 ,for the most part it seems to grow steadily year after year1 until the roots1 decaying stalks and the fine sediment which they have collected build up a spongy crust over the true bed of the flat4 ,it is this spongy1 clayey soil which is the predominant type in the eel-grass region1 though a large area is soft mud with little patches of hard sand4 ,it does not seem surprising that clams are not abundant in this soggy medium1 covered with its thick matting of grass4 ,clams do exist1 however1 for occasionally when the ice in the winter storms has scraped bare a section of these flats1 scattering large clams can be found4 ,whether anything can be done with these eel-grass flats on a sufficiently large scale to render the undertaking profitable1 and whether they would prove good ground for clam culture if the eel grass were removed1 is a problem4 ,however1 the sand flats free from eel grass comprise nearly #hjj acres1--an area sufficient in itself to furnish a very large industry for the town4 ,smooth1 hard and unshifting1 they have the appearance of being in every way suitable for the production of an enormous amount of shellfish4 ,yet1 barring cockles1 mussels and razor clams1 shellfish are rare on most of these flats1 which1 in spite of their inviting appearance1 are practically barren4 ,the only places where clams are dug in any quantity is along the shore4 ,here little scattered patches1 remnants perhaps of the former large supply1 repay the clammer's toil with a scant return4 ,little or no effort is made to dig them on the main flats1 and few are so dug unless they happen to be unearthed by accident when the men are searching for razor clams for bait4 ,the supply is hardly adequate for home consumption and the demands for bait by local fishermen4 ,whether all the great tidal territory of ,duxbury can ever be reconstructed into profitable clam ground is a difficult question4 ,there exist1 however1 no known reasons why a fishery at least as flourishing as that of twenty years ago could not be re-established and indefinitely developed4 ,a great industry was once in evidence here4 ,outside the boggy eel-grass marshes 7doubtful territory at best7 are wide expanses of clean sand flats1 suitable in every way for the cultivation of clams4 ,that the ingenuity of man properly administered can build up an enormous industry on these sand flats alone1 no thoughtful person can doubt1 and then utilization of these great barren ,duxbury wastes will partially1 at least1 be accomplished4 ,,comparison ,,of #aijg ,,with #ahgi4 ,,year4 ,production ,value4 7,bushels74 --------------------------- #ahgi1 #e1jjj #b1ejj #aijg1 #gjj #fjj ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #e ,capital invested1 #fj ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #gjj ,value1 #fjj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #hjj ,mud1 - ,gravel1 - ,mussels and eel grass1 #b1gjj ,total1 #c1ejj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #e ,scattering clams1 #aj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #hjj ,waste barren area 7acres71 #b1fhe ,possible normal production1 #hc1jjj ,kingston4 ,the condition of the clam industry at ,kingston is in many respects parallel to that at ,duxbury4 ,the clam flat area 7some #fjj acres7 is very much smaller1 but the character of the soil is essentially the same1 consisting for the most part of clay1 soft mud and eel-grass marshes1 with a relatively small proportion of really suitable ground4 ,the two main flats of the town are ,egobert's and ,gray's4 ,egobert's1 the larger of the two1 has an area of about #bge acres4 ,most of this is practically waste1 owing to a thick growth of eel grass2 but a triangular piece on the mid-southern section is bare4 ,this portion of smooth1 unshifting sand comprises about #hj acres4 ,a few patches of clams are scattered along the outer edge1 near the channel1 but hardly any of these patches produce clams enough to make it profitable to dig them4 ,the great bulk of this territory is entirely barren4 ,gray's flat is of an entirely different type4 ,it is a long flat1 with a fairly uniform width of about #ajj yards4 ,it runs through its entire length parallel to the shore1 while on the other side it is separated from ,egobert's by a #cjj-;foot channel4 ,like ,egobert's1 it is covered for the most part by eel grass1 but it is essentially different in the nature of its soil1 which is mud throughout4 ,although the total area of the flat is about #aae acres1 an irregular section of bare mud on the southeastern side1 comprising #cj acres1 is the only available clam territory4 ,this section is composed of soft mud on the north and south1 rather poorly suited for clam culture2 but the mid section contains several acres of hard mud1 which seems well adapted1 and here clams are found in sufficient quantities to keep several men digging intermittently through the summer months4 ,along the shore a few clam grants have been given to individuals by the local authorities4 ,these are managed with fair success1 though no business other than that of supplying the local demand is carried on4 ,the possibilities of forming a clam industry here of importance is evident1 though through lack of available territory it could never give promise of such a development as might be looked for from ,duxbury or ,plymouth4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #d ,capital invested1 #ej ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #ejj ,value1 #dej ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #aej ,mud1 - ,gravel1 - ,mussels and eel grass1 #dej ,total1 #fjj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #e ,scattering clams1 #e ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #aej ,waste barren area 7acres71 #ddj ,possible normal production1 #ah1jjj ,plymouth4 ,the clam industry at ,plymouth is at a low ebb4 ,the same problems which baffle progress at ,duxbury and ,kingston are present here with all their complications4 ,the combined available territory1 exceeding #a1fjj acres1 save for a few unimportant sections1 is wholly barren4 ,while it is true that fully two-thirds of this great area is eel-grass waste1 and in its present state of little value for the production of clams1 there remains over #ejj acres of good flats1 for the most part sand well adapted for shellfish culture4 ,it is certain that a flourishing industry has existed here in former times4 ,from the earliest history of the colony1 records tell of the excellent clam flats at ,plymouth2 and we learn that the ,pilgrims during the darkest hours of the early settlement depended in large measure upon these flats for support4 ,as late as #ahgi ,ernest ,ingersoll reports an annual output of #e1jjj bushels of clams1 and states that the industry had then greatly declined4 ,it appears to have gone down steadily ever since1 until now it merely furnishes transient employment to #d or #e men1 who dig at rather uncertain intervals for local markets4 ,the best clamming1 probably because the most inaccessible1 is around ,clark's ,island4 ,scattering clams occur on ,wind flat1 the ,oyster grant1 and in patches along the shore4 ,but no considerable extent of good clamming occurs anywhere1 and the bulk of the territory is wholly barren4 ,the town of ,plymouth has endeavored in several ways to develop the industry4 ,it has appropriated money to restock the flats1 a close season has been tried1 and an attempt made to solve the problem by the giving of private grants4 ,while these grants have not always been run in as energetic a manner as could be desired1 the experiment has proved conclusively that there are great possibilities in such a system4 ,in short1 there can be little doubt that in the proper administration of private grants lies the key to the solution of the problem which confronts this whole region4 ,as clams were once abundant in ,plymouth harbor1 and as no apparent causes other than excessive digging appear to have brought about the decline1 there seems to be no logical reason why this amount of territory 7#ejj acres7 should not yield its proper harvest4 ,as for the vast extent of eel-grass flats1 with all their undetermined possibilities1 they can well afford to wait until the more immediate and pressing problems of the flats already available for clam culture have been solved4 ,,comparison ,,of #aijg ,,with #ahgi4 ,,year4 ,production ,value4 7,bushels74 --------------------------- #ahgi1 #e1jjj #b1ejj #aijg1 #c1jjj #b1ejj ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #f ,capital invested1 #fj ,value of shore property1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #c1jjj ,value1 #b1ejj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #djj ,mud1 #ajj ,gravel1 - ,mussels and eel grass1 #a1ajj ,total1 #a1fjj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #aj ,scattering clams1 #ej ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #ddj ,waste barren area 7acres71 #a1ajj ,possible normal production1 #eh1jjj ,barnstable4 ,the clam industry at ,barnstable1 while not so extensive as at ,ipswich or ,essex1 is nevertheless of special interest4 ,the immensely long coast line1 stretching for many miles on both the north and south shores of ,cape ,cod1 gives the town a shellfish area both in ,cape ,cod ,bay and ,vineyard ,sound which renders it unrivalled throughout the ,state for variety of marine life and diversity of natural environment4 ,these conditions1 as they affect clam culture1 are best suited on the northern or bay side of the town1 where the clam industry flourishes more extensively1 as the southern shore is almost wholly given up to the rival quahaug1 oyster and scallop fisheries4 ,on the northern shore a large harbor1 nearly #e miles long and about #b miles broad at its widest part1 extends in a general westerly direction1 ending in a vast waste of salt marshes interwoven with a network of creeks4 ,up this harbor the tides rush with great velocity1 and when they sweep out to sea leave a broad expanse of flats1 sandy on the north and central portions and muddy on the south4 ,these flats cover an aggregate area of #djj acres1 comprising #bjj acres of hard sand and #aej acres of soft mud4 ,large stretches of these mud flats on the south are waste1 and covered for the most part with eel grass4 ,other sections elsewhere are likewise waste for various causes1 and are to be excluded as unprofitable or barren2 yet the total available area remaining after making these deductions exceeds #cej acres4 ,this is the theoretical condition1--the real condition is far otherwise3 #bj acres at the most yield clams1 and of these only #aj acres produce them in marketable quantities4 ,the explanation of these conditions is interesting4 ,in the winter the ice and the force of storms tear out great pieces of the tough marsh surf1 and the tides sweep them down the harbor4 ,some of these huge masses are torn to pieces and washed away1 others find lodgment on the broad surface of some tidal flat2 these1 becoming stationary1 accumulate sediment2 the grass grows upon them through the summer1 and gradually a little island is formed4 ,surrounding these islands and oftentimes growing over their entire surface1 bedded in among the roots of the marsh grass1 we find a very thick set of clams4 ,in short1 all the digging of any kind is in the immediate vicinity of these islands4 ,the deductions to be made from these facts are apparently simple4 ,in the spawning season1 when the microscopic clam larv are in their floating stage1 they are carried here and there by the currents4 ,later1 when they tend normally to settle in some fertile tract of flat1 they are prevented from so doing by reason of the remarkable swiftness of the tides1 which sweep strongly over the broad1 smooth flats1 and give the little clams no opportunity of lodgment4 ,only in the firm thatch of low-lying islands can they find anything to cling to1 and here1 with their slender byssus threads attached to unyielding grass or roots1 they are able to withstand the wash of the current4 ,thus the clams are gathered in great numbers in these natural collectors1 later are washed on the neighboring flat1 and finally a little colony grows up about every island of this sort4 ,that this is actually what happens is largely borne out both by observation and facts4 ,it makes little difference where these islands are located2 clams grow nearby1 while all about may stretch smooth1 hard flats1 perfectly adapted for clams1 yet altogether barren4 ,in view of the somewhat incomplete investigations made in this region1 it is perhaps too sweeping to point out any single factor as the sole cause for these waste areas2 but undoubtedly the swift tides and smooth1 hard flats1 which offer no resting place for the young larv1 constitute the main causes4 ,another odd circumstance in connection with the ,barnstable clam industry is the local regulations which control the industry4 ,almost all digging is carried on in the winter1 as a local by-law forbids the digging of clams in summer in any quantity exceeding #f bushels per week for family use4 ,this somewhat curious by-law is designed wholly for the benefit of the majority of the clammers1 and to give them employment in that season of the year when work is most difficult to obtain4 ,while interfering somewhat with summer clam bakes1 the law appears to meet the approval of the townspeople4 ,the south shore of ,barnstable possesses many of the features of ,buzzards ,bay1 and produces clams only in numbers sufficient for home consumption4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #be ,capital invested1 #bjj ,value of shore property1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #gjj ,value1 #eej ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #bjj ,mud1 #aej ,gravel1 - ,mussels and eel grass1 #ej ,total1 #djj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #aj ,scattering clams1 #aj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #ccj ,waste barren area 7acres71 #ej ,possible normal production1 #ci1jjj ,yarmouth4 ,the clam industry at ,yarmouth1 never extensive1 has steadily declined1 until now it barely supplies the demands of home consumption4 ,barnstable bar on the northern coast twenty years ago produced clams in considerable quantities1 but the soil was never well adapted for this shellfish4 ,scattering clams are now found there1 but the grounds are very much exposed1 and cannot properly rank as clam-producing area4 ,sea clams abound there at certain seasons1 and furnish a transient business2 also razor clams1 which are used extensively for bait4 ,the best clam territory is in ,mill ,creek1 on the south shore of the town4 ,scattered patches of clams also occur along the shore of ,bass ,river1 but the whole area really available does not exceed #ej acres1 and this is not at all well improved4 ,there are no regular clammers1 but intermittent digging produces about #fjj bushels of clams annually1 which are used either for home consumption or for bait4 ,no effort has been made on the part of the town authorities to better conditions1 although the advisability of giving clam grants1 at least on the northern or bay side1 has been discussed4 ,no permits are required1 and local legislation does not in any way concern itself with the clam industry4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #e ,capital invested1 #dj ,value of shore property1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #fjj ,value1 #ejj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #be ,mud1 #ae ,gravel1 #aj ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #ej ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #e ,scattering clams1 #aj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #be ,waste barren area 7acres71 #aj ,possible normal production1 #f1jjj ,orleans4 ,orleans is one of the few towns in the ,state which shows an advance in the clam industry4 ,this is largely due to an increased production on the rich flats of ,nauset harbor1 as the remaining available territory in the town is declining in value4 ,the output of #aijg is an increase of nearly #dj per cent4 over the yield of the previous year1 which shows an encouraging development4 ,the clam flat area of the town is divided into four rather distinct divisions1 three on the east or ,atlantic side and one on the ,bay or western side4 ,the grounds which have been dug for the longest time and yielded uniformly the best results lie in the waters of ,town ,cove4 ,here a strip of gravelly sand and mud about #cj feet wide extends along the shores of this cove for #b or #c miles4 ,clams are scattered throughout this strip1 and are dug constantly4 ,the second division includes the bars of ,nauset harbor1 which at present furnish the best digging in town4 ,the increased value of the town's industry is largely due to the recent development of these flats4 ,clams have seeded in abundantly during the past two or three years1 and now furnish very good digging4 ,the third section comprises that portion of the clam flat area bordering the coast of ,pleasant ,bay which crosses the town boundaries on the southeast4 ,here clams are rather scarce1 though dug occasionally4 ,this section is economically the least important of the four4 ,the fourth section extends along the western coast1 on a belt of sand bars well out in ,cape ,cod ,bay4 ,clams are found on a strip about a quarter of a mile in width1 and lying over half a mile from shore4 ,this is a very exposed location4 ,billingsgate ,point1 projecting out from the ,wellfleet coast1 offers some protection from northwest winds1 and the hills of the ,cape break the force of the easterly gales2 but the full force of storms from the west and southwest sweeps these bars1 and would seem to render them unsuitable for the growth of clams4 ,clams are here1 however1 in considerable numbers1 though not so numerous as three or four years ago1 and are dug to some extent4 ,the greater part of the digging is done by intermittent clammers1 who obtain perhaps #b bushels per day4 ,no permits are required1 as there are no town by-laws regulating the industry4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #cj ,capital invested1 #bjj ,value of shore property1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #c1jjj ,value1 #c1jjj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #abe ,mud1 #ej ,gravel1 #bj ,mussels and eel grass1 #e ,total1 #bjj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #be ,scattering clams1 #ej ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #ge ,waste barren area 7acres71 #ej ,possible normal production1 #bg1jjj ,eastham4 ,the town of ,eastham is a sparsely settled community1 and the clam fishery1 while not large1 plays a rather important part in its business activity4 ,six men depend quite largely upon it for a livelihood1 while some #cj others dig intermittently through the summer4 ,the same peculiar condition as at ,orleans exists on the western coast4 ,here far from shore clams are found in considerable numbers on the shifting bars4 ,the main source of supply1 however1 comes from the productive sand flats of ,nauset harbor4 ,these flats have seeded in only in the past two or three years1 but they have already shown latent possibilities of a future increase4 ,in the so-called ,salt ,pond #b men are employed nearly the year round in digging clams under water by a method of churning1 locally known as rootling4 ,the total available area in ,eastham is about #bjj acres4 ,more than half of this is sand1 which includes almost all the good digging1 while the mud flats are interspersed with stretches of gravel and scattering patches of eel grass4 ,the same abuses which have nearly ruined the ,swansea fishery have begun here4 ,small seed clams are exported in considerable quantities to supply the summer demand of the ,new ,bedford and ,fall ,river districts4 ,while this system has not yet made its ravages apparent1 a glance at the ,swansea report will serve to convince the most casual reader that unless some steps are taken to check this evil1 the practical annihilation of the ,eastham clam industry must follow4 ,as it is1 local legislation seems powerless to cope with the problem1 and no laws of any kind relating to the clam fishery are in force4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #cf ,capital invested1 #bej ,value of shore property1 -- ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #d1jjj ,value1 #d1jjj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #ajj ,mud1 #ej ,gravel1 #cj ,mussels and eel grass1 #bj ,total1 #bjj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #be ,scattering clams1 #ej ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #ajj ,waste barren area 7acres71 #be ,possible normal production1 #cj1jjj ,wellfleet4 ,although possessing extensive flats1 ,wellfleet produces at present a relatively small amount of clams4 ,the inhabitants realize that these flats are capable of producing a large harvest of clams if properly planted1 and that in this way an extensive industry can be developed1 and have undertaken to restock the flats1 appropriating in #aijf for this purpose the sum of #a1jjj4 ,at ,billingsgate ,island there are fair clam flats1 but they are not easily accessible1 as they lie at a distance of #e miles from town4 ,clams can also be obtained in more or less abundance in the thatch which borders the flats of ,blackfish ,creek1 ,herring ,river and ,duck ,creek4 ,a few clams are scattered over the flats of ,blackfish ,creek1 particularly toward the head of the creek4 ,two patches of clams covering perhaps an acre are on the flats in front of the town3 one in the stone and gravel east of ,commercial wharf2 the other1 a more extensive area1 just west of ,mercantile wharf4 ,wellfleet possesses many acres of flats which1 though now barren1 are capable of excellent production if properly planted4 ,wellfleet flats extend from ,duck ,creek to ,herring ,river and from ,herring ,river along the shores of ,great ,island for a distance of #d miles1 and cover an area of #djj acres4 ,the ,great ,island flats are not especially adapted for clams1 and only parts of these can ever be successfully cultivated1 while possibly all the area between ,duck ,creek and ,herring ,river can be reclaimed4 ,south ,wellfleet flats1 which comprise an area of #bjj acres1 are much poorer flats1 consisting for the most part of mud and shifting sand4 ,only the firmer portions1 about #ej acres1 can be made productive by planting with clams4 ,at ,wellfleet the soft clam fishery can hardly be styled an industry4 ,in the winter a few men go clamming when there is nothing else to do4 ,the majority prefer razor clamming1 which is a considerable winter industry1 owing to the demand for this bait at ,provincetown4 ,three men clam during the summer1 doing practically all their digging at ,billingsgate1 while #h others are in this work during the winter4 ,the flats of ,wellfleet were never very productive1 but formerly were capable of furnishing a far greater production than at present4 ,this decline is only accounted for by overdigging1 which has brought about the present scarcity4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #aa ,capital invested1 #cjj ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #hjj ,value1 #fdj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #dej ,mud1 #e ,gravel1 #aej ,mussels and eel grass1 -- ,total1 #fje ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #c ,scattering clams1 #ab ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #bej ,waste barren area 7acres71 #cdj ,possible normal production1 #bh1jjj ,truro4 ,the clam flats at ,truro are confined principally to the ,pamet ,river4 ,at the mouth of this river near the head of the harbor bar is a sand flat comprising several acres1 where the bulk of the clams are produced4 ,in ,south ,truro1 ,stony ,bar and other similar patches of rocky beach are fairly well bedded with clams4 ,scattering clams are found over the shifting bars which skirt the main land on the bay side1 but nowhere are clams sufficiently abundant to warrant any serious attempt at exportation4 ,fifteen to twenty years ago clams were everywhere much more abundant in this region than now1 and in those days some market digging was carried on4 ,at present the needs of the home market are with difficulty supplied from the local production1 and #ajj bushels per year would cover all clams dug both for food and bait4 ,no effort has at any time been made by the town authorities to increase the industry1 though the clam fishery1 at least in the sheltered coves of ,pamet ,river1 is not without possibilities of development4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #a ,capital invested1 #b ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #ej ,value1 #fj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #ej ,mud1 -- ,gravel1 -- ,mussels and eel grass1 -- ,total1 #ej ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #a ,scattering clams1 #b ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #dg ,waste barren area 7acres71 -- ,possible normal production1 #e1jjj ,provincetown4 ,for the last five years the flats of ,provincetown have produced only a small amount of clams4 ,wherever clams have set in abundance they have been quickly dug by fishermen for bait1 thus checking their natural propagation4 ,clams are found in the drains among the thatch beds on the southwest side of the harbor and in ,race ,run1 while a considerable set is scattered between the wharves of the town4 ,all the extensive flats at the southwest end of the harbor are entirely barren of clams1 owing chiefly to the shifting nature of the sand1 although on certain parts of these1 especially near the thatch1 clams would grow if planted4 ,as it is1 the shifting sand makes it impossible for the young clams to set on this area4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #e ,capital invested1 #ae ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #djj ,value1 #cbj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #djj ,mud1 - ,gravel1 - ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #djj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #c ,scattering clams1 #c ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #bjj ,waste barren area 7acres71 #aid ,possible normal production1 #ba1jjj ,chatham4 ,chatham can no longer be considered as the best clam-producing town of southern ,massachusetts4 ,in #ahgi ,chatham produced a greater quantity of soft clams than all the rest of the ,cape2 to-day all has changed1 and the annual output is far less than several other towns of the ,cape district4 ,the town of ,chatham is situated in the southeastern portion of ,cape ,cod1 and includes that part which is commonly called the elbow of the ,cape4 ,it is surrounded on the north1 east and south sides by the ocean1 while on the south the peninsula known as ,monomoy ,island extends for #i miles4 ,the clamming territory of ,chatham is situated in ,stage harbor1 ,pleasant ,bay and at ,monomoy ,point4 ,in ,stage harbor clams are found along the sides of the ,mill ,pond1 comprising possibly an acre1 and in the eastern end of the harbor toward the dike1 where about #c acres of flats are thickly set4 ,an extended area of sand flats are found in ,pleasant ,bay4 ,but small parts of this area furnish good clamming1 and the ,common ,flats on the inside of ,monomoy ,island1 where once there were acres of good clams1 now lie entirely barren except for a small patch of set just north of ,brant ,island1 comprising about #a_/e of an acre4 ,here are about #ajj acres of barren flats which only need planting to be made productive4 ,the commercial clam fishery1 of the town is carried on at ,monomoy ,point1 where #e acres of the best clamming in ,massachusetts is found4 ,the ,powder ,hole flats1 formed of coarse1 clean sand1 are thickly set with clams of all sizes1 and furnish excellent digging4 ,a good clammer can obtain from #e to #f bushels per tide from these flats4 ,clams are dug at ,chatham during the fishing season chiefly for bait4 ,such digging lasts through the fall and winter4 ,in the summer1 clams are dug only for food1 as no cod fishing is conducted in the warm months4 ,from #aj to #ae men were engaged in clamming during the summer of #aijg1 travelling from ,chatham to ,monomoy ,point in power or sail dories4 ,practically all the clams dug came from the ,powder ,hole flats at ,monomoy ,point4 ,these were purchased at ,chatham wharf by fish firms at the price of #b per barrel4 ,the winter clam fishery of ,chatham was once an important industry1 which started in #ahge when clams were in great demand as fish bait4 ,the following table shows how this industry has declined3-- #ahgi4 #aijg4 ---------------------------------------- ------- ,number of men1 #aej #aj ,annual production 7bushels71 #ce1jjj #a1ejj ,value of production1 #ab1bej #a1bjj ,price per bushel 7cents71 #ce #hj ,capital invested1 #b1jjj #djj ,owing to the large amount of clams dug by fishing vessels1 the following restrictions were incorporated in #ahha as a ,state law1 which reads as follows3-- ,no fisherman or any other person shall take from the towns of ,chatham and ,nantucket any shellfish1 for bait or other use1 except clams and a shellfish commonly known by the name of horse feet1 and no quantity exceeding seven bushels of clams1 including shells or one hundred of said horse feet shall be taken in one week for each vessel or craft1 nor in any case without a permit being first obtained from the selectmen of the town4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #aj ,capital invested1 #djj ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #a1ejj ,value1 #a1bjj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #ccj ,mud1 #aj ,gravel1 #bj ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #cfj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #aj ,scattering clams1 #ej ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #cjj ,waste barren area 7acres71 - ,possible normal production1 #dd1jjj ,harwich4 ,the town of ,harwich possesses but little clam area4 ,a few clams are obtainable on the shores of ,pleasant ,bay and ,mud ,creek in limited localities1 while in the southern waters of the town there is some digging in ,wychmere harbor and in ,herring ,river4 ,the total area of clam flats is not more than #a acres4 ,there are no regular clammers engaged in the business1 all the clams dug being used only for home consumption4 ,in #aije there was a town law restricting the digging in ,wychmere harbor1 except for bait1 to one day in the week4 ,,comparison ,,of #aijg ,,with #ahgi4 ,,year4 ,production ,value4 ,men4 7,bushels74 ------------------------------------ #ahgi1 #a1abe #djj #ae #aijg1 #ajj #ajj - ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 - ,capital invested1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #ajj ,value1 #hj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #aj ,mud1 #aj ,gravel1 #aj ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #cj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #a ,scattering clams1 #e ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #aj ,waste barren area 7acres71 #ad ,possible normal production1 #b1djj ,dennis4 ,as the town of ,dennis has mutual fishery rights with the town of ,yarmouth1 the clam flats of ,bass ,river1 which lie between the towns1 are free to any inhabitant of ,dennis4 ,a few clams are also dug in ,swan ,pond ,river4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 - ,capital invested1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #ej ,value1 #de ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #be ,mud1 #ae ,gravel1 #aj ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #ej ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #a ,scattering clams1 #d ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #cj ,waste barren area 7acres71 #ae ,possible normal production1 #d1bjj ,mashpee4 ,the clam fishery at ,mashpee is of hardly sufficient proportions to rank as an industry4 ,the shores of the ,popponesset ,river furnish perhaps favorable conditions for the growth of this shellfish1 but the available territory is small1 not exceeding #ej acres1 and of this only a small percentage1 comprising scattered patches of gravel-mud1 produces clams in any abundance4 ,no effort is made at exportation for market1 and under the present circumstances it is doubtful if a greater yield than that required to supply home consumption could be expected4 ,no effort is made on the part of local legislation to control the industry or foster it in any way4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #b ,capital invested1 #bj ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #ej ,value1 #de ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #bj ,mud1 #e ,gravel1 #bj ,mussels and eel grass1 #e ,total1 #ej ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #b ,scattering clams1 #h ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #cj ,waste barren area 7acres71 #aj ,possible normal production1 #e1djj ,buzzards ,bay4 ,the section of ,massachusetts bordering the shores of ,buzzards ,bay supports a flourishing quahaug1 oyster and scallop fishery1 capable of great development4 ,the clam industry1 however1 never very extensive1 is of very slight significance at present1 and can never attain the same degree of importance as the other shellfisheries1 owing to the limited area available for clams4 ,to those familiar with the harbors of ,newburyport and ,duxbury and their vast tidal flats with their latent possibilities1 the shores of ,buzzards ,bay present indeed a notable contrast4 ,bluff and hilly for the most part1 and frequently rocky1 nowhere do they show extensive flats suitable for clam culture4 ,that clams grow wherever opportunity permits is evident1 for they are found on gravelly stretches or among rocks all along the coast1 except in those localities openly exposed to the full force of the sea4 ,but allowing for all possible favorable features1 the lack of any considerable territory is a disadvantage that will forever act as a barrier to any expansion4 ,falmouth and ,dartmouth on the east and west sides of ,buzzards ,bay respectively differ materially from the remaining towns of the district1 in the fact that the characteristic soil of their clam grounds is sand2 while the other towns have little in the shape of available territory except gravel stretches along the shores of coves1 small areas of mud1 and the rocky beaches of points and headlands4 ,the yearly output hardly anywhere suffices for the needs of home consumption4 ,nowhere is any attempt at exportation possible4 ,the business1 such as it is1 is carried on in a very intermittent fashion1 chiefly in the summer1 with but a small investment of capital4 ,special local regulation seems to remain aloof from the problem of insuring a future clam supply4 ,that the combined area of all the towns of ,buzzards ,bay does not equal that of a single town in the ,cape ,ann district is an undeniable truth2 but the fact nevertheless remains that an industry far more considerable than exists at present could be supported1 and it is truly to the interest of the towns of this region to make the best possible use of their limited advantages4 ,falmouth4 ,falmouth has a long coast line not only on ,buzzards ,bay but also on ,vineyard ,sound4 ,the flats at ,north and ,west ,falmouth on the bay side are similar to those of ,wareham and ,bourne1 though there are several small patches of quite good digging4 ,on the southern shore there are clams scattered along the coasts of the various indentations1 particularly at ,waquoit ,bay4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 - ,capital invested1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #bjj ,value1 #age ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #dj ,mud1 #e ,gravel1 #e ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #ej ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #b ,scattering clams1 #h ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #dj ,waste barren area 7acres71 - ,possible normal production1 #f1djj ,bourne4 ,the clam industry at ,bourne is practically extinct4 ,scarcely any clamming is carried on by the inhabitants of the town1 even for their own use1 as clams have become so scattering that it hardly pays to dig them4 ,the territory is much the same in extent and general character as that of ,wareham1 but it has been over-dug to a greater degree1 and has become nearly barren4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 - ,capital invested1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #ajj ,value1 #ajj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #e ,mud1 #e ,gravel1 #cj ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #dj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #cj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 - ,waste barren area 7acres71 #aj ,possible normal production1 #f1jjj ,wareham4 ,wareham leads the towns of ,buzzards ,bay in the production of clams1 although its annual output is only #fjj bushels4 ,this clearly shows the low ebb to which the industry has fallen in this region4 ,there are no true tide flats in ,wareham1 but the total area of the mud-gravel and rocky bottom between high and low water mark where scattering clams are found is nearly #ajj acres4 ,there are no regular fishermen1 but some half dozen quahaugers dig clams from time to time1 chiefly during the summer1 to supply the home market4 ,the industry1 such as it is1 appears to be about stationary at present1 though in production it has declined notably during the last twenty years4 ,the town officials have attempted no measures to revive the failing fishery1 and no town laws affect it in any way4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #f ,capital invested1 #ajj ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #hjj ,value1 #hjj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #ae ,mud1 #aj ,gravel1 #ge ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #ajj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #ej ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 - ,waste barren area 7acres71 #ej ,possible normal production1 #aj1jjj ,marion4 ,the wealthy summer residents at ,marion create a demand for clams at a very substantial price4 ,in spite of the increased price1 there is little inducement to engage in this industry as a livelihood1 and only #a man digs steadily through the summer months1 though intermittent digging is done by others to supply the local market4 ,the best clamming is on the east coast of ,great ,neck and in ,wing's ,cove4 ,these grounds are difficult of access1 and consequently have not been so much overworked as the nearer shores of ,ram's ,island1 ,allan's ,point and ,blankinship's ,cove4 ,the total area does not exceed #aj acres1 and this for the most part is very poor territory2 while the clams coming from these rock and gravel beaches are not of very good quality1 the shells being usually gnarled and crooked4 ,there is no town legislation relating to this industry1 and though it is becoming of less consequence every year1 nothing is done to revive it4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #a ,capital invested1 #ae ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #ajj ,value1 #ajj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 - ,mud1 - ,gravel1 #aj ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #aj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #aj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 - ,waste barren area 7acres71 - ,possible normal production1 #b1jjj ,mattapoisett4 ,the coast of ,mattapoisett1 more open and exposed than that of ,fairhaven1 does not offer equal advantages to the cultivation of clams4 ,a similar strip of gravel-mud or sand occurs along the more sheltered portions of the coast1 and wherever an indentation in the mainland offers shelter clams may be found1 though never in sufficient quantities to make digging profitable4 ,there is really no industry at all2 the few clams that are dug go for home trade or are used as bait1 and the prospects of any decided improvement appear to be slight4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #a ,capital invested1 #ae ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #ajj ,value1 #ajj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 - ,mud1 #e ,gravel1 #e ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #aj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #aj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 - ,waste barren area 7acres71 - ,possible normal production1 #b1jjj ,fairhaven4 ,the clam industry at ,fairhaven suffers from the unsanitary condition of the flats1 though in a lesser degree than at ,new ,bedford4 ,the finest clam grounds of this town lie in the proscribed district of the ,acushnet ,river1 and handling or eating shellfish from this area is a positive menace to the public health4 ,a strip of gravel-mud about #ajj feet in average width fringes the shores of ,priest's ,cove1 and this strip furnishes at present the best digging4 ,scattered patches of clams occur along the indentations of ,sconticut ,neck1 around ,west ,island and along the coast of ,little ,bay4 ,no men are regularly employed in digging clams1 though a rather inefficient attempt is made at times to supply the local demand4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 - ,capital invested1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #ajj ,value1 #ajj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 - ,mud1 #be ,gravel1 #be ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #ej ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #be ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #be ,waste barren area 7acres71 - ,possible normal production1 #g1ejj ,new ,bedford4 ,the clam industry at ,new ,bedford was never of any great importance1 but the unwise methods of sewage disposal of the city1 whereby the effluent enters the harbor in close proximity to the clam flats1 renders the taking of shellfish a positive menace to the public health4 ,the action of the ,state ,board of ,health in closing the ,acushnet ,river and ,clark's ,cove to the clam digger virtually annihilated the remnant of the industry4 ,now practically all the available territory of the city is proscribed1 and no clams are allowed to be taken from this area except for use as bait4 ,licenses are also required to take clams even for bait from this proscribed territory4 ,three hundred and twenty of these licenses have been issued since the passage of the act in #aijd4 ,the annual yield of clams for this purpose cannot be accurately ascertained1 but probably does not exceed #bej bushels4 ,no important clam industry would ever have been possible at ,new ,bedford1 under any circumstances1 but the slight possibilities which once existed have been swept away and can never return under the present conditions1 though shellfish grown in this region could1 if suitable legislation were enacted1 be transplanted to a sanitary environment1 where in a month all danger of spreading typhoid germs would be avoided4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,licenses for bait1 #cbj ,capital invested1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels 7for bait71 #cjj ,value1 #bbe ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #e ,mud1 #e ,gravel1 #ae ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #be ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #ae ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 - ,waste barren area 7acres71 #aj ,possible normal production1 #c1jjj ,dartmouth4 ,the town of ,dartmouth possesses a wide expanse of territory1 but the actual amount of available clam ground is not as large as it would appear at first sight4 ,clams are found in more or less abundance at the following places3 7#a7 ,rickerson's ,point 7#b_/c acre72 7#b7 ,apponagansett ,river 7#f acres72 7#c7 ,apponagansett harbor 7#a acre72 7#d7 ,nonquit 7#a_/aj acre72 7#e7 ,round ,hill ,point 7#a_/e acre72 7#f7 ,salter's ,point 7#c_/d acre72 7#g7 ,smith's ,neck 7#c_/e acre72 7#h7 ,little ,river 7#g-a_/b acres72 7#i7 ,slocum's ,river 7#f acres72 comprising a total of #bc acres4 ,the best clamming is obtained on the flats of ,little and ,slocum's rivers4 ,in ,apponagansett ,river clams are dug in the summer for the ,padanaram clam bakes4 ,a town by-law placing a closed season on ,slocum's ,river was in force during the years #aijd and #aije4 ,in #aijf ,dartmouth1 by a ,state law1 required permits for clamming4 ,these permits are issued by the selectmen free of charge4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #d ,capital invested1 #ej ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #bjj ,value1 #afj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #ae ,mud1 #aj ,gravel1 #e ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #cj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #e ,scattering clams1 #ae ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 - ,waste barren area 7acres71 #aj ,possible normal production1 #e1jjj ,the ,fall ,river ,district 7,narragansett ,bay74 ,the section of country bordering on ,narragansett ,bay and the ,rhode ,island line comprises a territory remote from the other clam-producing districts of the ,state1 and possessing many characteristics not found in any other locality4 ,six towns of this region enjoy the privileges of a clam industry1 situated as they are on the shores of ,mt4 ,hope ,bay and its tributary streams1 the ,cole1 ,lee and ,taunton rivers4 ,beginning with the most westerly and taking them in order1 these towns comprise ,swansea1 ,somerset1 ,dighton1 ,berkley1 ,freetown and ,fall ,river4 ,these towns differ only in extent of resources or development of the industry1 while the general nature of the clam flats and the methods employed in carrying on the business are essentially alike for all4 ,the area in this region suitable for clam culture possesses some of the distinguishing features of the typical north shore flats1 some of the ,buzzards ,bay variety and some peculiar to itself4 ,there are scarcely any sand flats1 and the prevailing type of soil is mud1 as at ,newburyport1 or gravel1 as in ,buzzards ,bay2 while the greater part of the clam supply comes from a large and rather indefinite area1 which is not properly tide flat at all1 but lies continuously submerged4 ,the methods employed in carrying on this industry include both wet and dry digging4 ,on the tide flats the clams are dug as elsewhere on the south shore1 with hoes or the common digger4 ,where1 however1 clams are dug in #b or #c feet of water1 as is most frequently the case1 an ordinary long-handled shovel and wire basket are employed4 ,the soil containing the clams is shoveled into the baskets1 and then the clams are sifted out under water4 ,several years ago an attempt was made to dig clams by machinery4 ,an enterprising oysterman spent several hundred dollars in constructing a machine which was designed to farm the under-water districts more quickly and successfully than could be done by hand4 ,the device had some of the principles of a suction pump1 and theoretically the clams on the submerged flats could be washed out from the soil and collected in a receptacle4 ,the machine worked well enough in extracting the clams from the mud1 but failed completely when it came to collecting them4 ,in short1 after a thorough trial it was pronounced a failure and had to be abandoned4 ,the main peculiarity of this region1 and a far more important one than the type of soil or the methods of digging1 is the nature of the clams which are produced4 ,the inadequate territory and the constantly increasing demands of the ,fall ,river markets have led to abuses which have had a most disastrous effect on the clam industry1 and unless checked1 and soon1 these abuses will certainly cause its complete annihilation4 ,the abuses in question are the universal custom of digging small seed clams for food4 ,so importunate have the markets of ,fall ,river and the vicinity become1 that when the supply of suitable clams proves inadequate they demand and will gladly take anything with a shell on1 as the dealers say1 so that it is no uncommon sight to see exposed for sale in the city markets clams of only #a inch in length4 ,this deplorable condition is fostered by the custom of digging under water1 for the fine mesh of the woven-wire baskets retains even the smallest clams1 which are saved for market4 ,no quicker or surer way of destroying the industry completely could have been devised than this method of digging seed clams for food4 ,one barrel of these clams would produce #aj to #ae barrels of marketable clams if left for one year under favorable circumstances4 ,thus1 when a clammer digs #a barrel of these clams he is in reality destroying #aj or more barrels4 ,this is truly reaping the seed before it has had any time to mature the proper harvest4 ,also1 these seed clams are so immature that in many cases they have not spawned1 and thus the clammer by destroying the clams in this manner damages irrevocably all chances of restocking the flats4 ,from the inherent difficulties of the problem1 however1 local regulation seems powerless to cope with the evil4 ,the short-sighted clammers1 while they know that these methods1 if pursued very far1 will ultimately destroy the industry1 seem willing1 nevertheless1 to sacrifice the future for the present4 ,the other clammers are inevitably brought into line on this mistaken policy1 as they cannot but argue that if a few will persist in exploiting a natural resource it is the right of every man to have an equal chance1 and take his share of the proceeds as long as they last4 ,another potent factor in this wastefulness is the irresponsible foreign element of the mill districts1 who dig clams for their own use1 large or small1 with entire indifference4 ,it might perhaps prove unjust and difficult to enforce laws preventing individuals digging seed clams for their own use2 but legislation could possibly be enacted preventing the sale of such seed in the public market4 ,this would strike a blow at the abuse sufficient to rob it of its worst features4 ,the most casual glance at the facts in the case prove that there is a pressing need for some legislative action4 ,the history of the clam industry in this region is one of steady and rapid decline4 ,any clammer of the vicinity is willing to acknowledge that conditions at present are in a very unsatisfactory state4 ,the output of clams has greatly diminished1 both in the consensus of opinion of those interested in the business1 and also according to statistical figures4 ,furthermore1 the end of the industry1 as far as any economic importance is concerned1 is plainly in sight1 and at the present rate of destruction cannot long be delayed4 ,it would seem that here was a striking example of the need of prompt and wise legislation for the protection and development of an industry which has made large profits for the community1 and might yield still greater returns if properly regulated4 ,the towns of this region can never compete with the towns of the ,newburyport district in the production of clams1 for the reason that they have by no means an equal acreage of suitable flats4 ,the ,taunton ,river is also a considerable factor1 as its contaminated waters impair the quality of clams grown along its shores4 ,there remains1 however1 a considerable extent of suitable territory which might yield a large product if rightly controlled1 and this territory1 with its inherent possibilities depleted to the verge of exhaustion by unwise and wasteful methods1 it is for the interest of the ,commonwealth to protect and improve4 ,swansea4 ,swansea1 the most western town of this district1 is by far the most favorably located1 and has the greatest possibilities of clam production4 ,situated on the northern shore of ,mt4 ,hope ,bay1 and containing the majority of the flats in the ,cole and ,lee rivers1 it possesses a greater available territory free from the contaminating influences of the ,taunton ,river than any other town in this region4 ,altogether1 #bjj acres comprise the possibly available clam area of this town4 ,the best of this area is located in ,cole's ,river1 and includes ,long ,beach flat1 the best flat of the district4 ,situated on the east shore of the river just below the railroad bridge1 this flat stretches south in a broad triangle comprising some #bj acres of smooth1 semihard mud4 ,over the main flat is sprinkled a very thick set of inch to #a inch clams1 interspersed with some of larger growth4 ,while this is the best flat1 other flats extend along both shores far up the river until the clams become too fresh to be very good4 ,flats also occur in the ,lee ,river1 and there is a large and rather indeterminate amount of under-water territory4 ,the total area suitable for culture is not far from #aej acres2 of this1 about #bj acres are gravel and the rest practically all mud4 ,no permits are necessary to dig clams on tidal flats1 but permits are required to churn clams under water4 ,twenty of these permits were issued last year4 ,usually in digging under water two men work together1 one shovelling the mud into the wire baskets and the other sifting out the clams4 ,about #ge per cent4 of the clams produced come from these under-water areas1 as the tide flats are for the most part nearly exhausted4 ,the season lasts all the year round1 though most of the clams are dug in the summer time4 ,of late years it has become increasingly hard for a man to earn a living by clamming1 as only #a to #a bushels now comprise an average day's work under the most favorable circumstances4 ,many of the clammers are leaving the business and seeking a livelihood in other employments4 ,the history of the industry is one of marked decline4 ,the most conservative clammer estimates that at the present rate the passing of five years will witness the complete annihilation of the industry4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #be ,capital invested1 #bej ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #e1jjj ,value1 #e1jjj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #ajj ,mud1 #ajj ,gravel1 - ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #bjj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #bj ,scattering clams1 #cj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #ajj ,waste barren area 7acres71 #ej ,possible normal production1 #bd1jjj ,somerset4 ,somerset1 the next town in order1 joins ,swansea on the east and extends several miles up the left bank of the ,taunton ,river4 ,its flats on the south and west1 particularly in the ,lee ,river1 produce some clams1 though the industry is practically run out4 ,the total clam area comprises about #ge acres4 ,this is mostly mud1 though gravel stretches along the shore aggregate perhaps #aj acres4 ,the development of latent possibilities in this territory is largely curtailed by the disastrous effects of the ,taunton ,river upon the clams4 ,this water1 contaminated by the manufacturing plants of ,taunton1 makes the clams grown in the northern part of the town of inferior taste and quality4 ,six licenses1 costing #a apiece1 were issued last year for churning clams4 ,no permits other than these are required4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 - ,capital invested1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #ej ,value1 #ej ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 - ,mud1 #be ,gravel1 #be ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #ej ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #aj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #bj ,waste barren area 7acres71 #bj ,possible normal production1 #d1jjj ,dighton4 ,dighton has a very limited area of clam flat1 comprising only about #aj acres4 ,clams extend but little beyond the southern boundary of the town on the ,taunton ,river and about mile up the ,segregansett ,river on the west4 ,practically no business is made of clamming by the citizens of the town except for local consumption4 ,about #dj bushels were churned last year by outsiders4 ,no permits are issued4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 - ,capital invested1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #dj ,value1 #dj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 - ,mud1 #e ,gravel1 #e ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #aj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #b ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #h ,waste barren area 7acres71 - ,possible normal production1 #a1bjj ,berkley4 ,berkley1 on the right bank of the ,taunton ,river1 opposite ,dighton1 has a very similar clam territory both in extent and characteristics4 ,but little use is made of the clam except for bait1 as the river water renders them very unsatisfactory as food4 ,there is practically no industry1 and there never could be any of importance1 owing to the very limited area and the contamination of the waters4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 - ,capital invested1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #be ,value1 #be ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 - ,mud1 #e ,gravel1 #e ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #aj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #d ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #f ,waste barren area 7acres71 - ,possible normal production1 #a1djj ,freetown4 ,freetown1 joining ,berkley on the south near the ,fall ,river line1 possesses a number of clam flats1 aggregating #be acres4 ,very little business is carried on1 although conditions are better than in ,berkley or ,dighton4 ,the clams1 too1 are of better quality1 being freer from the disagreeable flavor of clams grown farther up the river4 ,the possibilities for clam culture in this town are not attractive1 but the present conditions can be vastly improved4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 - ,capital invested1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #ajj ,value1 #ajj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 - ,mud1 #aj ,gravel1 #ae ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #be ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #ae ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 - ,waste barren area 7acres71 #aj ,possible normal production1 #c1jjj ,fall ,river4 ,fall ,river has no clam territory on the south1 owing to the wharves and other obstructions4 ,on the more open waters of the north towards ,freetown there is an extent of clam ground occupying about #be acres4 ,the foreign element in the city dig here for food1 and some clams are likewise dug for bait1 but the industry on the whole is of little consequence4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 - ,capital invested1 - ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #ajj ,value1 #ge ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 - ,mud1 #bj ,gravel1 #e ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #be ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 - ,scattering clams1 #aj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #ae ,waste barren area 7acres71 - ,possible normal production1 #c1ejj ,nantucket4 ,at present ,nantucket does not possess a clam industry of any importance4 ,years ago it is claimed that clams were abundant1 and that quantities were dug for food or for bait4 ,now the reverse is true1 and the fisherman often finds it difficult to procure clams even for bait4 ,indeed1 ,nantucket furnishes an excellent illustration of the decline of the clam industry4 ,practically all the flats of ,nantucket are shore flats i4e41 narrow flats along the shores of the harbor and on the sides of the creeks4 ,thus the area1 though extending for many miles1 is not great1 and the clam industry of the island1 though capable of development1 nevertheless can never assume the importance of the quahaug and the scallop fisheries4 ,in ,nantucket harbor clams are found in the creeks1 and particularly in ,polpis harbor1 although scattering clams are found all along the south shore of the harbor4 ,a few clams are found on the north side in ,coatou ,creek and in ,first and ,second ,bend4 ,the flats in ,nantucket harbor are all coarse sand or a fine gravel1 except in the creeks1 where they become muddy4 ,on the eastern and southern sides clams are found in scattering quantities in ,maddequet harbor1 on the north side of ,tuckernuck and in the cove on the south side of ,muskeget4 ,,comparison ,,of #aijg ,,with #ahgi4 ,,production4 #ahgi4 #aijg4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------------- ,bushels1 #b1bec #djj ,value1 #hgb #cej ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #d ,capital invested1 #dj ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #djj ,value1 #cej ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #aej ,mud1 #be ,gravel1 #be ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #bjj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #e ,scattering clams1 #ae ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #acj ,waste barren area 7acres71 #ej ,possible normal production1 #ah1jjj ,edgartown4 ,although ,edgartown possesses #bjj acres of clam flats1 it is not in a true sense a clam-producing town4 ,the reason for this small production is due to the nature of the flats1 which are mostly under water at low tide1 making clamming difficult4 ,naturally ,edgartown devotes its energies to the more profitable quahaug and scallop fisheries4 ,the clam flats of the town are situated along the shores of ,cape ,poge ,pond and in the lower part of ,katama ,bay1 where many acres of flats are continually submerged4 ,the shore flats are of small area1 owing to the light rise and fall of the tide1 less than #c feet at this part of the coast4 7#a7 ,cape ,poge ,pond4--,scattering clams are found all along the shore flats1 except for a -mile strip on the west side4 ,the soil is of a coarse sand or gravel4 7#b7 ,katama ,bay4--,the best clam flats of the town are situated in ,katama ,bay1 and extend over a considerable territory4 ,these flats1 consisting of a coarse1 sandy soil1 lie continually submerged4 ,here the clams are dug by means of a sea horse4 ,this animal is nothing more than an elongated clam hoe with a belt attachment1 whereby the clammer can churn out the clams at a depth of #b to #c feet4 ,the clam industry of ,edgartown has fallen off considerably since #ahgi4 ,however1 the clammers say that it has improved during the last fifteen years4 ,the following comparison is made between the production of #ahgi and #aijg3-- ,,comparison ,,of #aijg ,,with #ahgi4 ,,year4 ,production ,production ,production ,value of for ,food for ,bait 7,bushels74 ,production4 7,bushels74 7,bushels74 ---------------------------------------- ------------------ #ahgi1 #a1jjj #c1jjj #d1jjj #a1egj #aijg1 #fbe #ege #a1bjj #a1jjj ,the general shellfish regulations which govern the other shellfisheries of the town apply to the clam fishery2 but the industry has never been considered important enough to need special legislation1 and but slight attention has been given to it4 ,,summary ,,of ,,industry4 ,number of men1 #g ,capital invested1 #ej ,production1 #aijg3-- ,bushels1 #a1bjj ,value1 #a1jjj ,total area 7acres73-- ,sand1 #aej ,mud1 - ,gravel1 #ej ,mussels and eel grass1 - ,total1 #bjj ,productive area 7acres73-- ,good clamming1 #bj ,scattering clams1 #ajj ,barren area possibly productive 7acres71 #ej ,waste barren area 7acres71 #cj ,possible normal production1 #cc1jjj ,in the opinion of many1 doubtless1 this report may appear unduly lengthy1 and to include many seemingly trivial facts and unnecessary repetitions4 ,to the trained observer1 however1 it seems of the greatest importance in dealing with such a practical and important problem to place on record all facts and opinions which may become of value1 and to emphasize by frequent repetitions certain fundamental facts4 ,respectfully submitted1 ,d4 ,l4 ,,belding4 ,the preceding report is intended to be a reliable statement of facts1 and suggestions for consideration4 ,on such a basis of facts the future policy of developing the shellfisheries must be based4 ,it is the purpose of the ,commissioners on ,fisheries and ,game to hold a series of public hearings in the different sections of the ,state for the purpose of giving personal expositions of the shellfish conditions and possibilities1 and of giving a better opportunity for exchanging1 discussing and weighing opinions4 ,meantime1 in considering the conditions of the shellfisheries of ,massachusetts1 and the laws necessary to improve these conditions1 the following points are of importance4 ,the present shellfish laws are based upon the principle of public fisheries1 and were made at times and at places where there was such a superabundance that the natural increase was sufficient to meet the market demands4 ,artificial cultivation was unnecessary4 ,the fundamental laws were made in the colonial days4 ,since then the demand for shellfish as food has enormously increased1 and for many years the annual natural increase has been entirely inadequate to meet these demands4 ,we have outgrown the conditions which the original conception of that law covered4 ,under parallel conditions it has been found necessary to sell or lease the public lands1 in order that the yield of food may be increased by cultivation under the immediate direction and responsibility of individual citizens1 and under protection of ,state and national laws4 ,when it was learned that the yield of a cultivated oyster bed far exceeded the natural product both in quantity and quality1 the oyster laws were so modified that an important industry was built up1 until to-day practically the entire oyster yield of ,massachusetts1 ,rhode ,island and ,connecticut is from cultivated beds1 and the total product is many times the total catch from the natural beds in their palmiest days4 ,to-day not only is it necessary to so modify the oyster laws as to increase the opportunities for better utilizing our bays and estuaries for oyster growing on a more extensive scale than is done at present1 but also for developing similar methods of growing clams and quahaugs1 and perhaps also scallops4 ,the tidal flats must1 as well as the deeper waters1 be made to produce food and money by securing a larger yield per acre1 and by the utilization of thousands of acres which are now practically idle1 but which either are now adapted for growing shellfish or can readily be made so4 ,our present shellfish laws are a heterogeneous1 conflicting patchwork1 devised to meet temporary and local conditions1 utterly inadequate to-day to permit the fishermen to secure a just return for their labor1 and completely sacrificing the public interests4 ,in many cases the responsible tax-paying citizen cannot find a place to dig a family supply of clams or quahaugs1 neither can the industrious native fisherman get a fair day's pay for his labor4 ,an entirely new code of shellfish laws is necessary1 based upon the general principles 7#a7 that in selling the shores the ,state reserved the right of fishing as far as the tide doth ebb and flow1 and 7#b7 that the ,state may now lease these fishing rights under such conditions and restrictions as to secure to every citizen so desiring and so deserving an opportunity to cultivate such a definite area as may meet his needs and powers4 ,experience has proved conclusively that it is a correct economic principle for the ,state to give a secure title to certain carefully defined lands to a capable man1 and to say3 ,this land is yours4 ,you may raise potatoes1 corn1 hay or anything you choose4 ,every plant1 fruit or tree growing on this property is yours4 ,you have become responsible for its right and proper use4 ,you have full and complete rights in this property1 and can develop it by investing your labor and your money according to your own judgment1 and the ,state will protect you in these rights as long as you do not interfere with the rights of other persons4 ,equally so it is an indubitable economic fact that the landowner finds it more profitable to plant or transplant corn1 potatoes1 grass1 strawberries1 etc41 rather than to depend upon the natural methods and yield4 ,similarly1 it is equally logical for the ,state to give to the fisherman equal opportunities with the farmer4 ,the ,state should guarantee the tenure of the fisherman in his definitely bounded shellfish garden1 and should protect his interests and the property on that garden as securely as if it were potatoes or corn1 and should1 so far as possible1 guard him from local jealousy or the effects of petty politics so long as he continues wisely to improve his grant in conformity to the spirit and letter of laws which are found by experience to give the greatest good to the greatest number4 ,further1 the ,state should protect the fishermen and the consumers of shellfish by defining the areas which from a sanitary point of view are 7#a7 totally unsuitable for shellfish cultivation2 7#b7 those where shellfish may be grown but not eaten2 and1 finally1 7#c7 definite areas from which alone shellfish may be sold for food4 ,provide suitable penalties for sale of shellfish which have not been kept for the required time 7at least thirty days7 in sanitary surroundings before going to market4 ,the entire question of pollution of streams and estuaries must be carefully considered in view of the public rights and of the commercial interests of the fishermen4 ,further1 the laws must be so carefully drawn that the respective rights and interests of individual fishermen1 shore owners1 summer cottagers and the transient public at the seashore are completely safeguarded against the dangers of predatory wealth monopolizing the opportunities for cultivating shellfish in the waters and the tidal flats4 ,the situation is extremely complicated on account of the diverse conditions and the numerous conflicting interests1 oystermen1 quahaugers1 clammers and scallopers1 native and alien fishermen1 owners of shore property1 town and ,state rights1 local interests and petty politics1 and careful judicial consideration is necessary not alone as to the substance of the necessary laws1 but upon the methods of administering these laws4 ,respectfully submitted1 ,g4 ,w4 ,,field4 ,j4 ,w4 ,,delano4 ,g4 ,h4 ,,garfield4 ,,footnotes3 #ag ,licenses4 #ah ,licences for bait4 #ai ,licenses4 #bj ,statistics of the number of men engaged were unobtainable4 ,,index4 ,,index4 ,barnstable3-- ,clam industry1 #bjg-bji ,oyster industry1 #adg-adi ,quahaug industry1 #eb1 #ec ,scallop industry1 #if-ih ,berkley3-- ,clam industry1 #bbi1 #bcj ,oyster industry1 #aef-aeh ,beverly1 clam industry1 #aib ,boston harbor1 clam industry1 #aif-aih ,bourne3-- ,clam industry1 #bbj ,oyster industry1 #aec1 #aed ,quahaug industry1 #ec1 #ed ,scallop industry1 #ih1 #ii ,brewster1 scallop industry1 #ii ,buzzard's ,bay district3-- ,clam industry1 #bai ,oyster industry1 #aej-aeb ,capital1 #cf ,chatham3-- ,clam industry1 #bae1 #baf ,oyster industry1 #add-adf ,quahaug industry1 #ee1 #ef ,scallop industry1 #ii-aja ,clam3-- ,decline1 #afe1 #aff ,distribution1 #aei ,farming1 #afg-agf ,growth1 #aga-agc ,history in ,massachusetts1 #agf-agh ,industry in ,massachusetts1 #agh-ahj ,production for ,massachusetts since #ahhj1 #agh ,remedy for decline1 #afg ,seed1 #agd ,statistics of industry in ,massachusetts1 #afa-afd ,cohasset1 clam industry1 #bjj ,dartmouth3-- ,clam industry1 #bbd1 #bbe ,quahaug industry1 #ef ,scallop industry1 #ajc ,dennis3-- ,clam industry1 #bag1 #bah ,oyster industry1 #adf1 #adg ,quahaug industry1 #ef ,scallop industry1 #aja-ajc ,dighton3-- ,clam industry1 #bbi ,oyster industry1 #aef-aeh ,duxbury1 clam industry1 #bjb-bjd ,eastham3-- ,clam industry1 #baa1 #bab ,oyster industry1 #add ,quahaug industry1 #ef1eg ,scallop industry1 #ajc ,edgartown3-- ,clam industry1 #bcb1 #bcc ,quahaug industry1 #eh-fj ,scallop industry1 #ajc-aje ,essex1 clam industry1 #ahh-aij ,fairhaven3-- ,clam industry1 #bbc ,quahaug industry1 #fj1 #fa ,scallop industry1 #aje1 #ajf ,fall ,river1 clam industry1 #bca ,fall ,river district3-- ,clam industry1 #bbe-bbg ,oyster industry1 #aef-aeh ,scallop industry1 #ajf ,falmouth3-- ,clam industry1 #bai1 #bbj ,oyster industry1 #adi1 #aej ,quahaug industry1 #fa1 #fb ,scallop industry1 #ajf ,fishing rights of the public1 #bf ,food value of shellfish1 #ib ,freetown3-- ,clam industry1 #bcj ,oyster industry1 #aef-aeh ,gloucester1 clam industry1 #aij1 #aia ,harwich3-- ,clam industry1 #bag ,oyster industry1 #adf ,quahaug industry1 #fb1 #fc ,scallop industry1 #ajf1 #ajg ,hingham1 clam industry1 #aii ,hull1 clam industry1 #aii1 #bjj ,ipswich1 clam industry1 #ahe-ahh ,kingston1 clam industry1 #bje1 #bjf ,laws3-- ,oyster1 #abg-acb ,quahaug1 #ej1 #ea ,scallop1 #ib1 #ic ,shellfish1 #be-cj ,lynn1 clam industry1 #aic1 #aid ,manchester1 clam industry1 #aia1 #aib ,marion3-- ,clam industry1 #bba1 #bbb ,oyster industry1 #aef ,quahaug industry1 #fc1 #fd ,scallop industry1 #ajg1 #ajh ,marshfield1 clam industry1 #bja1 #bjb ,mashpee3-- ,clam industry1 #bah ,oyster industry1 #adi ,quahaug industry1 #fd1 #fe ,scallop industry1 #ajh ,mattapoisett3-- ,clam industry1 #bbb ,quahaug industry1 #fe1 #ff ,scallop industry1 #ajh1 #aji ,methods of work1 #af ,clam1 #afj1 #afa ,oyster1 #aag1 #aah ,quahaug1 #ch ,scallop1 #ha ,monopoly1 #cf ,nahant1 clam industry1 #aie1 #aif ,nantucket3-- ,clam industry1 #bca1 #bcb ,oyster industry1 #aeh1 #aei ,quahaug industry1 #ff-fi ,scallop industry1 #aji-aaa ,narragansett ,bay3-- ,clam industry1 #bbe-bbg ,oyster industry1 #aef-aeh ,new ,bedford3-- ,clam industry1 #bbc1 #bbd ,quahaug industry1 #fi1 #gj ,scallop industry1 #aaa-aac ,newbury1 clam industry1 #ahd1 #ahe ,newburyport1 clam industry1 #ahb1 #ahc ,orleans3-- ,clam industry1 #baj1 #baa ,oyster industry1 #add ,quahaug industry1 #gj-gb ,scallop industry1 #aac ,overfishing1 #bc ,oyster3-- ,enemies1 #aee ,grants1 #aai ,natural beds1 #aai-abc ,statistics1 #acf-ach ,spat collecting1 #acc1 #acd ,oystermen v4 quahaugers1 #aeb ,plymouth1 clam industry1 #bjf1 #bjg ,pollution1 water1 #bc-be1 #bcf ,protection1 #bf1 #bg ,provincetown3-- ,clam industry1 #bad1 #bae ,quahaug industry1 #gb ,scallop industry1 #aac ,quahaug3-- ,decline1 #ch-dj ,distribution1 #cf1 #cg ,farming1 #dj-dc ,growth1 #db ,history in ,massachusetts1 #di1 #ej ,industry1 #dc-di ,rakes1 #dd1 #de ,spat collecting1 #dc ,statistics1 #ea ,quahaugers v4 oystermen1 #aeb ,resources1 unimproved1 #ai ,salem1 clam industry1 #aic ,salisbury1 clam industry1 #ahj-ahb ,sanitary conditions1 #bcf ,saugus1 clam industry1 #aid1 #aie ,scallop3-- ,decline1 #hb-hd ,distribution1 #hj ,dredges1 #hf-hh ,eye1 #hh ,history in ,massachusetts1 #ic1 #id ,improvements1 #hd ,industry1 #he-ia ,maine1 #ij ,market1 #ij ,openers1 #hh ,outfit1 #ij1 #ia ,pusher1 #he ,season1 #ia ,shanties1 #hh ,soaking1 #hi1 #ij ,statistics1 #ie ,scituate1 clam industry1 #bja ,sectional jealousy1 #ca ,shellfisheries3-- ,abuses1 #be-cc ,decline1 #bj-be ,development1 #ai ,production since #ahgi1 #bj ,remedy1 #cc-ce ,statistics1 #ai ,somerset3-- ,clam industry1 #bbh1 #bbi ,oyster industry1 #aef-aeh ,statistical summaries3-- ,clam industry1 #afa-afd ,oyster industry1 #acf-ach ,quahaug industry1 #ea ,scallop industry1 #ie ,shellfish industry1 #ai ,swansea3-- ,clam industry1 #bbg1 #bbh ,oyster industry1 #aef-aeh ,quahaug industry1 #gb ,tisbury1 scallop industry1 #aac ,town jealousy1 #ca ,truro3-- ,clam industry1 #bac1 #bad ,quahaug industry1 #gb ,wareham3-- ,clam industry1 #bba ,oyster industry1 #aed-aef ,quahaug industry1 #gb-gd ,scallop industry1 #aad1 #aae ,waste of competition1 #ca ,wastefulness1 historical1 #ag-ai ,wellfleet3-- ,clam industry1 #bab1 #bac ,oyster industry1 #ach-adc ,quahaug industry1 #gd-gi ,scallop industry1 #aae ,weymouth1 clam industry1 #aih ,yarmouth3-- ,clam industry1 #bji1 #baj ,oyster industry1 #adf1 #adg ,quahaug industry1 #gi1 #hj ,scallop industry1 #aae1 #aaf ,illustration3 ,the above map of the coast line of ,massachusetts1 with its numbered sections1 furnishes an index to the following series of shellfish areas4 ,illustration3 ,the above characters1 as used on the following maps1 indicate the position and relative quantities of the various shellfish in their respective localities4 ,no attempt is made to give the relative abundance of scallops and oysters1 while the present productive value of the different clam and quahaug areas is indicated by different standards of marking4 ,illustration3 ,map #a4 ,illustration3 ,map #b4 ,illustration3 ,map #c4 ,illustration3 ,map #d4 ,illustration3 ,map #e4 ,illustration3 ,map #f4 ,illustration3 ,map #g4 ,illustration3 ,map #h4 ,illustration3 ,map #i4 ,illustration3 ,map #aj4 ,illustration3 ,map #aa4 ,illustration3 ,map #ab4 ,illustration3 ,map #ac4 ,illustration3 ,map #ad4 ,illustration3 ,map #ae4 ,illustration3 ,map #af4 ,illustration3 ,map #ag4 ,illustration3 ,map #ah4 ,illustration3 ,map #ai4 ,illustration3 ,map #bj4 ,illustration3 ,map #ba4 ,illustration3 ,map #bb4 ,illustration3 ,map #bc4 ,illustration3 ,map #bd4 ,illustration3 ,the ,scallop ,pusher4--,this implement consists of a wooden pole1 from #h to #i feet long1 attached to a rectangular iron framework1 #c by #a feet1 fitted with a netting bag1 #c feet in depth4 ,the scalloper1 wading in the shallow water1 gathers the scallops from the flats by shoving the pusher among the eel grass4 ,the photograph shows the correct position of the pusher in operation4 ,only a small part of the pole is shown4 ,illustration3 ,the ,box ,scallop ,dredge4--,this dredge consists of a rectangular framework1 #bg by #ab inches1 with an oval-shaped iron bar extending backward as a support for the netting bag1 which is attached to the rectangular frame4 ,to the sides of this frame is joined a heavy iron chain about #d feet long1 to which the drag rope is fastened4 ,this style of dredge is used only at ,chatham and the neighboring towns of ,cape ,cod4 ,illustration3 ,scallop ,dredge1--,the ,scraper4--,this implement has the form of a triangular iron framework1 with a curve of nearly #ij at the base1 to form the bowl of the dredge4 ,on the upper side a raised cross bar connects the two arms1 while at the bottom a strip of iron #b inches wide extends across the dredge4 ,this narrow strip acts as a scraping blade1 and is set at an angle so as to dig into the soil4 ,the top of the net is fastened to the cross bar and the lower part to the blade4 ,the usual dimensions of the dredge are3 arms1 #b feet2 upper cross bar1 #b feet2 blade1 #b feet4 ,the net varies in size1 usually running from #b to #c feet in length and holding between #a and #b bushels4 ,additional weights can be put on the cross bar when the scalloper desires the dredge to scrape deeper4 ,a wooden bar #b feet long buoys the net4 ,the scraper used at ,nantucket has the entire net made of twine1 whereas in other localities the lower part consists of interwoven iron rings4 ,illustration3 ,the ,oyster ,dredge4--,this is the type of oyster dredge used on the large gasolene boats4 ,the photograph was taken on board the oyster boat of ,mr4 ,james ,monahan of ,wareham4 ,the dredge consists of a net of woven iron rings attached to an iron framework4 ,from each corner of the framework rods extend1 converging at a point some feet away1 where the drag rope is attached4 ,the blade1 resting horizontally on the surface1 is armed with large teeth which rake the oysters into the bag4 ,when this bag1 which holds from #h to #ae bushels1 is full1 the dredge is raised by a gasolene hoist4 ,illustration3 ,the ,basket ,quahaug ,rake4--,this style of basket rake is used at ,edgartown and ,nantucket4 ,the whole rake is made of iron1 no netting being required1 as thin iron wires #a_/c of an inch apart encircle lengthwise the entire basket1 preventing the escape of any marketable quahaugs1 while at the same time allowing mud and sand to wash out4 ,this rake has #af steel teeth1 #a inches long1 fitted at intervals of #a inch on the scraping bar4 ,the depth of the basket is about #h inches4 ,short poles not exceeding #cj feet in length are used1 as the raking is carried on in water which does not exceed #be feet in depth4 ,only the iron framework of the rake is shown4 ,illustration3 ,the ,claw ,quahaug ,rake4--,this rake varies greatly in size and length4 ,its use is chiefly confined to ,nantucket4 ,the general style has a handle #f feet long1 while the iron part1 in the form of a claw or talon1 with prongs #a inch apart1 is #aj inches wide4 ,a heavier rake1 as here shown1 is sometimes used in the deeper water4 ,illustration3 ,the ,scallop ,rake4--,the use of this rake is confined almost exclusively to the town of ,chatham4 ,both scallops and quahaugs can be taken with it4 ,the bowl is formed by a curve of the prongs1 which are held together by two long cross bars at the top and bottom of the basket1 while the ends are enclosed by short strips of iron4 ,handles from #ae to #bj feet long are generally used with this rake4 ,illustration3 ,rowley ,reef ,clam ,set4--,this photograph shows the surface of ,rowley ,reef1 one of the flats of ,plum ,island ,sound4 ,in the summer of #aijf a heavy set of clams was found on this flat1 averaging #a1ejj to the square foot of surface4 ,these rapidly diminished1 and one year later1 ,aug4 #bg1 #aijg1 when this photograph was taken1 the clams numbered about #djj to the square foot4 ,this area furnished an excellent illustration of the great destruction of natural clam set4 ,only #e per cent4 of these clams reached maturity1 and the remaining #ie per cent41 destroyed by natural agencies1 could have been saved if proper measures had been taken4 ,at least #ajj acres of the barren flats of ,rowley could have been planted with the seed from this flat1 and after two years the crop would have been worth #cj1jjj4 ,the present shellfish laws of the ,commonwealth are alone to blame for this waste4 ,the clam hoe shown in the foreground is the typical digger or hooker of the ,north ,shore clammer4 ,illustration3 ,rowley ,reef4--,this photograph1 taken on the same date as the preceding1 shows another section of the reef1 where the clam set has been torn up and destroyed by horse-shoe crabs and cockles4 ,illustration3 ,rowley ,reef4--,a photograph1 natural size1 of a thickly set part of the same flat4 ,the broken shells on top show clams which have been crowded out of the sand and destroyed4 ,in this way nature regulates the number of clams in a given area4 ,illustration3 ,castle ,neck ,flat 7,essex ,river74--,a scene at low tide1 ,aug4 #bh1 #aijg1 showing the area turned over by two clammers in one hour4 ,at this date there was a heavy set of small clams on this flat4 ,illustration3 ,plymouth ,harbor4--,this photograph was taken at low tide1 from the boat house of ,mr4 ,frank ,cole4 ,in the foreground are a few of the experimental clam beds of the ,massachusetts department of fisheries and game4 ,note the large tracts of eel grass covering the flats4 ,illustration3 ,cole's ,clam ,grant4--,this photograph shows a portion of the grant leased to ,mr4 ,frank ,cole by the town of ,kingston for the propagation of clams4 ,several of the experimental beds of the ,massachusetts department of fisheries and game were situated on this grant4 ,illustration3 ,clam ,spat ,box4--,this box was suspended from a raft during the summer of #aijg4 ,the small clams which were caught in it are heaped before the box4 ,these clams vary in size from to #b inches in length1 showing that the spawning season is at least of two months' duration4 ,the spat box was put down ,may #ae and taken up ,october #ae4 ,note the barnacles1 silver shells 7,anomia71 etc41 on the box and rope4 ,illustration3 ,a ,clam ,shanty4--,the shanty of ,samuel ,kilbourn1 an experienced ,ipswich clammer4 ,the large heap of shells is the result of six weeks of steady digging4 ,numerous shanties of this sort are used for shucking out clams when marketed by the gallon4 ,this photograph also shows the clam sifter which was used in obtaining the small seed clams from ,rowley ,reef for the experimental beds4 ,illustration3 ,taking up ,one of the ,clam ,gardens of the ,massachusetts ,department of ,fisheries and ,game4--,the bed was planted ,nov4 #ae1 #aije1 in ,essex ,river1 on a sand flat locally known as ,newfoundland4 ,when the bed was planted the flat was considered barren1 as it produced practically no clams4 ,the photograph was obtained ,nov4 #ae1 #aijg1 when the bed was taken up1 and shows the clammers at work4 ,note the heaps of marketable clams which were taken from the bed4 ,illustration3 ,yield in ,two ,years of the ,garden shown in the ,preceding ,photograph4--,note the amount of clams planted1 compared with the marketable clams taken out4 ,the size of the bed was #a_/ajj of an acre4 ,the clams had increased in size so that #h quarts were obtained for every quart planted4 ,this shows what could be done with many barren flats if individuals had the privilege of cultivating clam farms4 ,illustration3 ,the ,winkle or ,cockle 7,lunatia heros and duplicata74--,an enemy of the clam1 which it destroys by boring a hole through the shell and sucking out the contents4 ,illustration3 ,clam ,growth4--,this photograph gives a comparison between the growth of small and large clams from a single bed under the same natural conditions4 ,the large clam shows a much slower growth than the small4 ,both clams were notched when planted on the ,spit in ,essex ,river1 ,april #ah1 #aijg4 ,they were dug ,aug4 #bh1 #aijg4 ,illustration3 ,soft-shelled ,clam 7,mya arenaria74--,this large clam shell1 measuring #e inches in length1 was found on ,grey's ,flat1 ,kingston4 ,where the flat has been worn away by erosion the ground is white with thousands of these shells in an upright position in the soil1 showing that sudden destruction had overtaken them at some time in the past4 ,illustration3 ,quahaugs from an ,experimental ,bed at ,monomoy ,point1 showing ,two ,years' ,growth4--,the two notches or file marks on the shells indicate the growth per year4 ,the photograph is two-thirds life size4 ,these quahaugs have shown rapid growth1 having gained nearly #a inch a year in length1 which is the best growth thus far found in any of the experimental beds4 ,illustration3 ,gathering ,seed ,oysters in the ,weweantit ,river1 ,wareham1 ,may #f1 #aijh4--,the natural beds of the town of ,wareham had been closed for seven years1 and on this date were opened for the period of one week for the inhabitants of the town to gather seed oysters1 the photograph was taken on the opening day1 and shows the oystermen at work tonging the seed oysters4 ,in the foreground is a loaded skiff1 ready to have its contents estimated by the inspector1 who declares the number of bushels4 ,the tongers pay the town #aj cents per bushel for the privilege of gathering the oysters1 and sell them for #ce cents per bushel to the planters1 thus realizing a profit of #be cents4 ,illustration3 ,typical ,steam ,dredger4--,the oyster boat of ,mr4 ,james ,monahan of ,wareham1 showing oyster dredge and hoist4 ,the large cans aboard the boat contain young flatfish from the ,woods ,hole ,hatchery of the ,united ,states ,fish ,commission4 ,mr4 ,monahan is distributing these in ,wareham river4 ,illustration3 ,typical ,oyster ,schooner4--,oyster schooner loaded with #a1ice bushels of ,wareham seed for ,l4 ,dodge1 ,providence ,river4 ,this seed was taken in ,may1 #aijh1 from the natural oyster bed in the ,agawam ,river1 which had been closed for the past three years4 ,transcriber's ,notes3 ,simple spelling1 grammar1 and typographical errors were silently corrected4 ,anachronistic and non-standard spellings retained as printed4 ,p4 #ib added 7,all values expressed as per cent47 in lieu of repeating per-cent4 comment in every column header4 ,italics markup is enclosed in underscores4 ,bold markup is enclosed in equals4