Chapter V: Section 85: The mayor and aldermen of cities and the selectmen (2)

_Boats._--Nearly all kinds of boats are utilized in the quahaug fishery, and are of all values, from the $10 second-hand skiff to the 38-foot power seine boat, which costs $1,500. The shallow-water industry requires but little invested capital. Dories and skiffs are the principal boats, costing from $10 to $25. Occasionally a sail or power boat may be used in this fishery. The deep-water industry requires larger and stronger boats. These are either power or sail boats, often auxiliary "cats," and their value runs anywhere from $150 to $1,500. The average price for the sail boats is $250, while the power boats are assessed at $350. At Orleans several large power seine boats, valued at about $1,500, are used in the quahaug fishery. These seine boats are 30 to 38 feet over all, have low double cabins, and are run by 8 to 12 horse-power gasolene engines. The ordinary power boats have gasolene engines from 2 to 6 horse-power. In this way each method of quahauging has its own boats, which are adapted for its needs.

_Dredging._--So far as known, dredging is never used in quahauging in Massachusetts, although it is sometimes used on sea-clam beds. It has been tried, but without success, chiefly because of the uneven nature of the bottom. The invention of a suitable dredge is necessary, and there can be little doubt that in the future, if this difficulty is overcome, dredging will be used in the quahaug fishery. In 1879 Mr. Ernest Ingersoll reports in Rhode Island the use of a quahaug dredge similar in structure to our rake. Evidently this form was never especially successful, possibly because these dredges could not be dragged by sail boats.

_Outfit of a Quahauger._--The implements and boats used in quahauging have already been mentioned. The outfit of the average quahauger in each fishery is here summarized:--

_Deep-water Quahauging._

Boat, $300
2 rakes, 20
3 poles, 6
-----
$326

_Shallow-water Quahauging._

Boat, $20
Tongs or rakes, 3
Baskets, 2
-----
$25

_Season._--The quahaug fishery is essentially a summer fishery, and little if any is done during the winter. The season in Massachusetts lasts for seven months, usually starting the last of March or the first of April, and ending about the first of November. The opening of the spring season varies several weeks, owing to the severity of the weather; and the same is true of the closing of the season.

As a rule, the Buzzards Bay industry, where digging is done in the shallow waters of protected bays and coves, using short rakes and tongs, has a longer season than the quahaug industry of Cape Cod, where the fishery is carried on in deep and open waters. With the former, the cold work and hardship alone force the quahaugers to stop fishing, a long time after storms and rough weather have brought the latter industry to an end.

The actual working days of the deep-water quahauger number hardly over 100 per season, while those of the shallow-water fishermen easily outnumber 150. The deep-water quahauger's daily earnings are two or three times the daily wages of the shallow-water quahauger, but the additional number of working days in part make up this difference.

The quahaug season can be divided arbitrarily into three parts: (1) spring; (2) summer; (3) fall. The spring season lasts from April 1 to June 15, the summer season from June 15 to September 15, and the fall season from September 15 to November 1. These seasons are marked by an increase in the number of quahaugers in the spring and fall. The men who do summer boating quahaug in the spring before the summer people arrive, and in the fall after the summer season is over. The opening of the scallop season, in towns that are fortunate enough to possess both industries, marks the closing of the quahaug season. These two industries join so well, scalloping in the winter and quahauging in the summer, that a shellfisherman has work practically all the year.

_The Principal Markets._--The principal markets for the sale of Massachusetts quahaugs are Boston and New York. In 1879 the Boston market, according to Mr. Ernest Ingersoll, sold comparatively few. At the present time the Boston market disposes of many thousand bushels annually, but nevertheless the greater part of the Massachusetts quahaugs are shipped to New York. This, again, is due to the better market prices offered by that city. Besides passing through these two main channels, quahaugs are shipped direct from the coast dealers to various parts of the country, especially the middle west. This last method seems to be on the increase, and the future may see a large portion of the quahaug trade carried on by direct inland shipments.

_Shipment._--Quahaugs are shipped either in second-hand sugar or flour barrels or in bushel bags. The latter method is fast gaining popularity with the quahaugers and dealers, owing to its cheapness, and is now steadily used in some localities. When quahaugs are shipped in barrels, holes are made in the bottom and sides of the barrel, to allow free circulation of air and to let the water out, while burlap is used instead of wooden heads.

"_Culls._"--Several culls are made for the market. These vary in number in different localities and with different firms, but essentially are modifications of the three "culls" made by the quahaugers: (1) "little necks;" (2) "sharps;" (3) "blunts." The divisions made by the firm of A. D. Davis & Co. of Wellfleet are as follows: (1) "little necks," small, 1½-2¼ inches; large, 2¼-3 inches; (2) medium "sharps," 3-3¾ inches; (3) large "sharps," 3¾ inches up; (4) small "blunts;" (5) large "blunts."

_Price._--The prices received by the quahaugers are small, compared with the retail prices. "Little necks" fetch from $2.50 to $4 per bushel, sharps and small blunts from $1.10 to $2, and large blunts from 80 cents to $1.50, according to the season, fall and spring prices necessarily being higher than in summer. The price depends wholly upon the supply in the market, and varies greatly, although the "little necks" are fairly constant, as the demand for these small quahaugs is very great. To what excess the demand for "little necks" has reached can best be illustrated by a comparison between the price of $3 paid to the quahauger per bushel, and the actual price, $50, paid for the same by the consumer in the hotel restaurants.

_Bedding Quahaugs for Market._--By town laws in Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet, each quahauger may, upon application, secure from the selectmen a license, giving him not more than 75 feet square of tidal flat upon which to bed his catch of quahaugs. While no positive protection is guaranteed, public opinion recognizes the right of each man to his leased area, and this alone affords sufficient protection for the success of this communal effort, which is the first step by the people toward quahaug farming.

The quahauger needs only to spread his catch on the surface, and within two tides the quahaugs will have buried themselves in the sand. Here they will remain, with no danger of moving away, as the quahaug moves but little. The quahauger loses nothing by this replanting, as not only do the quahaugs remain in a healthy condition, but even grow in their new environment.

The result of this communal attempt at quahaug culture is beneficial. While the market price for "little necks" is almost always steady, the price of the larger quahaugs fluctuates considerably, and the market often becomes "glutted." This would naturally result in a severe loss to the quahauger if he were forced to keep shipping at a low price. As it is, the fortunate quahauger who possesses such a grant merely replants his daily catch until the market prices rise to their proper level. An additional advantage is gained by the quahauger, who at the end of the season has his grant well stocked, as higher prices are then offered. As many as 1,000 barrels are often held this way at the end of the season.

_Food Value._--See food value table in scallop report.

_Uses._--Besides its many uses as a food, raw, cooked and canned, the quahaug is of little importance in Massachusetts.

(1) For bait the soft clam (_Mya arenaria_) is generally preferred, and but few quahaugs are used for this purpose.

(2) The shell was once prized by the Indians for their wampum; now it is occasionally used for ornamental purposes.

(3) Oystermen use it for cultch when they can get nothing better; though more fragile shells are usually preferred, so that the masses of oyster "set" can be easily broken apart.

(4) Shell roads are occasionally made from quahaug shells. Possibly lime could be profitably obtained.

_History of Quahaug Industry in Massachusetts._

South of Plymouth harbor quahaugs have always been plentiful along the shores of Cape Cod, Buzzards Bay and the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Frequent shell heaps show that the Indians were accustomed to use this mollusk as a food, and even indulged in an occasional clam bake. Colonial records show us that the early colonists were not slow in learning to "tread out" this mollusk from the mud flats. The shells of the quahaug were much prized by the Indians for wampum beads, because of their purplish color.

Although reckoned inferior by many to the soft clam (_Mya arenaria_), the quahaug was dug for home consumption for years in Massachusetts, and but little attempt was made to put it on the market. The commercial quahaug fishery started on Cape Cod, about the first of the nineteenth century, growing in extent until about 1860. From 1860 to 1890 the production remained about constant. The production in 1879 for Massachusetts, as given by A. Howard Clark, totaled 11,050 bushels, valued at $5,525. It is only in the last fifteen to twenty years that the actual development of the quahaug fishery has taken place. The present production of Massachusetts is 144,044 bushels, valued at $194,687. To the popular demand for the "little neck" can be attributed the rapid development of the quahaug industry during the last ten years. This development has furnished employment for hundreds of men, and has given the quahaug an important value as a sea food. What it will lead to is easily seen. The maximum production was passed a few years ago, constant overfishing caused by an excessive demand is destroying the natural supply, and there will in a few years be practically no commercial fishery, unless measures are taken to increase the natural supply. Quahaug farming offers the best solution at the present time, and gives promise of permanent success.

The following statistics, taken from the United States Fish Commission reports, show the rapidity of the development of the quahaug fishery:--

=============+============+===========+================
DATE. | Bushels. | Value. | Price (Cents).
-------------+------------+-----------+----------------
1879, | 11,050 | $5,525 | 50.0
1887, | 35,540 | 21,363 | 60.0
1888, | 26,165 | 14,822 | 56.5
1898, | 63,817 | 50,724 | 79.5
1902, | 106,818 | 131,139 | 124.0
1905, | 166,526 | 288,987 | 155.0
=============+============+===========+================

Not only has there been an increase in production, but also an increase in price, as can be seen from the above table, which shows that the price has more than doubled between 1888 and 1902. This increase in price has alone supported a declining fishery in many towns, making it still profitable for quahaugers to keep in the business, in spite of a much smaller catch. 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 neck," or small quahaug.

_State Laws._--There are no State laws governing the quahaug fishery, except the regulations of the State Board of Health in regard to sewage pollution in Acushnet River and Boston Harbor.

_Town Laws._--Regulation of the quahaug fishery was given to each town by the State under the general shellfish act of 1880; the industry is therefore entirely governed under the by-laws of the town.

An interesting comparison can be made between the quahaug regulations of the different towns. Good, useless and harmful laws exist side by side. One town will pass excellent regulations, and enforce them; another town will make the same, but never trouble to see that they are observed. Edgartown enforces the 1½-inch quahaug law; Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet have the same law, but fail to enforce it. Many towns allow the small seed quahaugs to be caught and shipped out of the State, thus losing $4 to every $1 gained. These towns refuse to make any regulation, such as a simple size limit, which would remedy this matter, and have no thought for the future of their quahaug industry. All that can be said is that the quahaug laws are the best of the town shellfish regulations, and that is but faint praise.

_Statistics of the Quahaug Fishery._

In the following table the towns are arranged in alphabetical order, and the list includes only those towns which now possess a commercial quahaug fishery. In giving the number of men, both transient and regular quahaugers are included. In estimating the capital invested, the boats, implements, shanties and gear of the quahauger are alone considered, and personal apparel, such as oilskins, boots, etc., are not taken into account. The value of the production for each town is based upon what the quahaugers receive for their quahaugs, and not the price they bring in the market. The area of quahaug territory given for each town includes all ground where quahaugs are found, both thick beds and scattering quahaugs.

=============+======+=========+======+=======+================+======+=======
TOWN. |Number| Capital |Number|Number |1907 PRODUCTION.| | Value
| of |invested.| of | of +--------+-------+ Area | of
| Men. | |Boats.|Dories |Bushels.| Value.| in | Yield
| | | | and | | |Acres.| per
| | | |Skiffs.| | | | Acre.
-------------+------+---------+------+-------+--------+-------+------+-------
Barnstable, | 25 | $850 | - | 25 | 2,500| $3,700| 950| $3.95
| | | | | | | |
Bourne, | 46 | 1,000 | - | 46 | 5,400| 8,400| 2,500| 3.36
| | | | | | | |
Chatham, | 50 | 5,750 | 25 | 25 | 6,700| 10,000| 2,000| 5.00
| | | | | | | |
Dennis, | 15 | 150 | - | 10 | 500| 950| 200| 4.75
| | | | | | | |
Eastham, | 25 | 8,000 | 12 | - | 10,000| 11,500| 4,000| 2.87
| | | | | | | |
Edgartown, | 70 | 12,000 | 42 | 18 | 20,000| 32,000| 1,800| 17.77
| | | | | | | |
Fairhaven, | 115 | 5,000 | 11 | 100 | 15,000| 16,500| 3,000| 5.50
| | | | | | | |
Falmouth, | - | - | - | - | 100| 115| 400| .29
| | | | | | | |
Harwich, | 7 | 200 | - | 7 | 1,500| 2,550| 100| 25.50
| | | | | | | |
Marion, | 19 | 250 | - | 19 | 800| 1,500| 400| 3.75
| | | | | | | |
Mashpee, | 7 | 70 | - | 5 | 250| 285| 400| .71
| | | | | | | |
Mattapoisett,| 28 | 500 | - | 28 | 800| 1,500| 750| 2.00
| | | | | | | |
Nantucket, | 48 | 6,750 | 30 | 10 | 6,294| 8,487| 5,290| 1.60
| | | | | | | |
Orleans, | 75 | 25,000 | 30 | 25 | 33,000| 41,350| 1,500| 27.56
| | | | | | | |
Wareham, | 50 | 1,000 | - | 50 | 6,000| 10,500| 1,300| 8.08
| | | | | | | |
Wellfleet, | 145 | 27,500 | 100 | - | 33,000| 41,350| 2,500| 16.54
| | | | | | | |
Yarmouth, | 20 | 240 | - | 10 | 2,200| 4,000| 1,000| 4.00
-------------+------+---------+------+-------+--------+-------+------+-------
| | | | | | | |Average
Totals, | 745 | 94,260 | 250 | 378 | 144,044|194,687|28,090| $6.93
=============+======+=========+======+=======+========+=======+======+=======

_Barnstable._

Barnstable, with its extensive bays both on the north or bay side and on the south or Vineyard Sound side, offers great possibilities for quahaug production. Although the quahaug ranks, in productive value, the third shellfish industry of Barnstable, the natural resources permit an expansion under cultural methods which would place the quahaug ahead of the oyster, which at the present time is the leading shellfish industry of the town.

In Barnstable harbor, on the north coast of the town, a few quahaugs are found scattered in isolated patches. (See Map No. 9.) These are relatively of small importance commercially, and no regular fishery is carried on. In the future the vast barren flats of this harbor may be made productive of quahaugs as well as clams, although at present the total area of quahaug grounds is hardly 5 acres.

The greater part of the quahaug industry of Barnstable is conducted on the south shore of the township, which is especially adapted, with its coves and inlets, for the successful growth of this shellfish. The principal fishery is in Cotuit harbor and West Bay, and is chiefly shared by the villages of Osterville, Marston's Mills and Cotuit, which lie on the east, north and west sides, respectively, of the bay.

While the greater part of Cotuit harbor is taken up by oyster grants, there are certain parts, though limited in area, which are set aside for quahauging. The principal area for quahauging is the flat which runs along Oyster Island. This was originally an oyster grant taken out by Wendell Nickerson, and thrown open to quahaugers to protect the quahaug interests from the oyster planters. This territory, which comprises 70 acres, is mostly hard sand. Directly west in the center of the harbor lies a strip of 80 acres of mud and eel grass, where both quahaugs and scallops abound. The depth of water on quahauging grounds varies from 1 to 14 feet.

Scattering quahaugs are found also in Osterville harbor, West Bay, Popponesset River and East Bay. This bottom is practically all sand, and comprises a total of 1,650 acres. This cannot all be considered good quahaug ground, although quahaugs can occasionally be found.

At Hyannis the quahaug grounds are confined to Lewis Bay, where they cover an area of 800 acres. The quahaugs lie in scattered patches over this area, but in no place is there especially good quahauging. The bottom is hard, usually sandy, with patches of eel grass, while the average depth of water is hardly more than 6 feet.

In Osterville Bay about 20 men, in Lewis Bay about 5, using the same number of dories, make a business of quahauging in the summer months. Three styles of implements are used: (1) oyster tongs, varying from 8 to 16 feet, according to the depth of water; (2) large basket rakes, with 30-foot handles; (3) ordinary garden rakes, with wire basket, for shallow-water digging.

At Cotuit the quahaugs run one-third "little necks," one-third mediums and one-third large. Here several men, using long-handled rakes, make from $3 to $5 per day in favorable weather. The markets are principally New York and Boston, where the quahaugs are shipped, mostly in sacks, which is a cheaper and better way than shipment in barrels. Here the quahaug season lasts from April 1 to November 1, most of the work being done in the summer, when the oyster business is at a standstill.

There are no town laws governing the quahaug fishery, other than forbidding a non-resident of the town the right of quahauging; and no licenses are required.

No records of the history of the quahaug industry at Barnstable can be found. A. Howard Clark in 1879 makes the following brief statement, which is the only record obtainable:--

Both soft clams and quahaugs are found in the harbor
[Osterville harbor], but no considerable fishing for them is
carried on.

SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY.

Area of quahaug territory (acres), 950
Number of men, 25
Number of boats, -
Value of boats, -
Number of dories, 25
Value of dories, $500
Value of implements, $350

_Production._

"Little necks":--
Bushels, 800
Value, $2,000
Quahaugs:--
Bushels, 1,700
Value, $1,700
Total:--
Bushels, 2,500
Value, $3,700

_Bourne._

The town of Bourne was formerly included in the town of Sandwich, and many old laws relating to shellfish, such as oyster regulation in Barlow River, were enacted by the town of Sandwich. Situated at the head of Buzzards Bay, and separated from the adjacent town of Wareham by Cohasset Narrows, Bourne has many advantages for a profitable quahaug industry. It possesses nearly twice as much quahaug territory as Wareham, but, as most of this lies unproductive, has a smaller annual output. The territory includes over 2,500 acres of ground, most of which consists of flats of mud, sand and eel grass, covered with shallow water. It is very sparsely set with quahaugs. Outside the oyster grants practically the entire stretch of coast from Buttermilk Bay to Wings Neck is quahauging ground, as can be seen on Map No. 17. Other quahaug grounds lie between Basset's Island, Scraggy Neck and Handy's Point. It is our opinion that this large territory, which to-day yields on the average less than $3.50 per acre, in the future, under cultivation, can be made to yield an average of $100 per acre, thereby bringing into the town of Bourne a yearly income of at least $250,000, and furnishing labor for hundreds of men.

About 46 men are engaged in the quahaug fishery of Bourne, using the same number of skiffs and dories, which represent approximately an investment of $875. The fishery lasts usually seven months during the summer, April 1 to November 1, while the winter digging is of small account. Practically all the digging is done in comparatively shallow water, with short-handled rakes or tongs. Rather more than a third of the quahaugs appear to be "little necks," while the mediums constitute one-tenth of the total catch. "Blunts" are of little consequence.

The selectmen issue permits for the taking of quahaugs and clams. In 1906, 46 permits were issued, entitling the holder to 10 bushels of clams and 10 bushels of quahaugs per week.

There is little to be said concerning the history of the Bourne quahaug industry, as no early records exist. Its development has been similar to that of the industries of the other Buzzards Bay towns. During the last few years the Bourne fishery, unlike most of the towns on Buzzards Bay, has shown signs of increasing. This is not due, however, to any increase in the natural supply, but to the decline of the oyster industry, which gives more opportunity to the quahaugers. The same antagonistic feeling that is prevalent in Wareham exists here between the oystermen and quahaugers.

SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY.

Area of quahaug territory (acres), 2,500
Number of men, 46
Number of boats, -
Value of boats, -
Number of skiffs, 46
Value of skiffs, $875
Value of implements, $125

_Production._

"Little necks":--
Bushels, 2,000
Value, $5,000
Quahaugs:--
Bushels, 3,400
Value, $3,400
Total:--
Bushels, 5,400
Value, $8,400

_Chatham._

Chatham is favorably situated in regard to the quahaug fishery, as this shellfish is found in the waters on the north and south sides of the town. The grounds are extensive, covering about 2,000 acres, the greater part of which consists of the vast area south of the town known as the "Common Flats."

The quahauging grounds are in four localities: (1) Pleasant Bay; (2) Mill Pond; (3) Stage Harbor; (4) Common Flats.

(1) Part of the waters of Pleasant Bay belong to the town of Chatham. In an arm of this bay, known as Crows Pond, the best Pleasant Bay fishery is carried on in water varying from 6 to 16 feet in depth.

(2) An excellent "little neck" fishery is carried on in the upper part of the Mill Pond, in comparatively shallow water, comprising an area of 3 acres. On these bars in 1905 there was a very heavy set of small quahaugs, which were rapidly taken up before they had a chance to attain to a fair size.

(3) Quahaugs are raked on the west side of Stage Harbor in 5 to 15 feet of water, in an area of 4 acres of muddy bottom.

(4) The Common Flats comprise 1,700 acres, and are covered at low tide by a depth of only 1 to 2 feet of water. Quahaugs are found throughout this territory in scattering quantities, but practically all is good quahaug ground except the shifting outer part of the flat. The soil varies from a pure sand to a sandy mud, and in parts is thickly covered with eel grass, which makes raking hard. This area offers one of the best opportunities for successful quahaug planting in the State. The area is large, seed can be obtained easily and quahaugs grow well in this locality. If it were not for the lack of protection, Chatham could establish one of the best quahaug industries in the State by leasing out the Common Flats for planting purposes.

Quahaugs are taken at Chatham only with rakes. In the deep water in Crows Pond and in Stage Harbor basket rakes are used; but in the shallow water on the Common Flats and in the Mill Pond the usual implement is an ordinary garden rake, with wire netting basket. Handles from 20 to 25 feet in length are used with the basket rakes.

The quahaug industry has existed in Chatham for the past twelve years.

SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY.

Area of quahaug territory (acres), 2,000
Number of men, 50
Number of boats, 25
Value of boats, $5,000
Number of dories, 25
Value of dories, $350
Value of implements, $400

_Production._

"Little necks":--
Bushels, 2,200
Value, $5,500
Quahaugs:--
Bushels, 4,500
Value, $4,500
Total:--
Bushels, 6,700
Value, $10,000

_Dartmouth._

The quahaug industry of Dartmouth is of little consequence. In 1907, 320 permits were granted, mostly to New Bedford fishermen for "bait."

_Dennis._

The quahauging grounds of Dennis are practically all in Bass River, where Dennis has equal fishery rights with Yarmouth. The area of these grounds is 200 acres, with a maximum depth of 6 feet of water over the beds. The history of the industry is the same as that of Yarmouth, as the two industries are closely associated, and a similar decline has resulted. The laws for both towns are the same.

SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY.

Area of quahaug territory (acres), 200
Number of men (transient), 15
Number of boats, -
Value of boats, -
Number of skiffs, 10
Value of skiffs, $100
Value of implements, $50

_Production._

"Little necks":--
Bushels, 300
Value, $750
Quahaugs:--
Bushels, 200
Value, $200
Total:--
Bushels, 500
Value, $950

_Eastham._

Eastham is similar to Orleans in situation, possessing a good coast line on both the east and west, which affords excellent opportunities for the quahaug fishery.

On the west or bay side are extensive beds of quahaugs, for the most part blunts, extending into deep water for nearly 3 miles. This quahauging territory comprises about 4,000 acres, which is open to the quahaugers of both Wellfleet and Orleans. While scattering quahaugs are found over approximately all this territory, the fishery is conducted in only certain definite places.

In Nauset harbor on the east side during the season of 1906 numerous beds of "little necks," about the 1½-inch size, were discovered. 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 use. These quahaugs were torn up and scattered by the ice during a severe winter, and in this way the nucleus of a new fishery was formed. Two men who discovered the best of these beds cleared $60 in one week.

On the west coast of the town 25 men commonly dig with long-handled rakes. These fishermen work at quahauging about 100 days in the year, and average from 5 to 6 bushels per day. Power boats are used for the most part, although the boats are not so large or expensive as those of the Orleans fishermen, for the Eastham quahauger digs in the more sheltered waters of Wellfleet Bay.

The production for 1906 was 10,000 bushels, but this does not give the true yield of the Eastham flats, as the Wellfleet and Orleans fishermen rake to a great extent in Eastham waters, and so many more bushels are actually taken within the town limits.

The town laws of Eastham are the same as those of Wellfleet. (See Wellfleet.) The history of the Eastham quahaug industry is so closely connected with that of Orleans and Wellfleet that no additional features require mention.

SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY.

Area of quahaug territory (acres), 4,000
Number of men, 25
Number of boats, 12
Value of boats, $7,375
Number of dories, -
Value of dories, -
Value of implements, $625

_Production._

"Little necks":--
Bushels, 1,000
Value, $2,500
Quahaugs:--
Bushels, 9,000
Value, $9,000
Total:--
Bushels, 10,000
Value, $11,500

_Edgartown._

The finest "little neck" fishery in Massachusetts is found in Katama Bay, in the town of Edgartown. Two-fifths of the entire catch are "little necks." The most productive grounds are situated in the lower part of Katama Bay, while quahaugs are also found in Edgartown harbor and in Cape Poge Pond, the total area of these localities comprising 1,800 acres.

The fishing is mostly done from power dories or sail boats with basket rakes. Poles from 20 to 25 feet long are used, as the water over the beds is less than 20 feet deep. Some quahaugs are taken in the shallow water with small claw rakes. The catch is shipped to the New York and Boston markets.

The quahaug industry of Edgartown is the best-regulated shellfish industry in Massachusetts. If excellent care had not been taken of the "little neck" fishery of Katama Bay by enforcing a size limit of 1½ inches, through the employment of a special shellfish warden, the quahaug fishery of Edgartown would have been ruined long ago by the exportation of small "seed" quahaugs. To-day the number of small quahaugs which are returned to the water greatly exceeds the amount of marketable quahaugs taken. This is the only case in Massachusetts where the quahaug fishery, by careful regulations of the town, has maintained an undiminished supply. If other towns had taken similar care of their quahaug fisheries in the past, the general decline of the industry in this State would never have become so serious.

The following is a copy of the shellfish permit, which every Edgartown quahauger is required to take out, at the cost of $2, before he can rake quahaugs for market. Any man over sixty years old obtains his permit free. This permit should serve as a model for other towns.

SHELLFISH PERMIT.

TOWN OF EDGARTOWN, SELECTMEN'S OFFICE, 190_.

In consideration of having received from ____ of Edgartown the
sum of $2, permission is hereby granted to him to take from any
of the waters of this town daily, between sunrise and sunset,
twenty-five bushels of scallops or clams, including shells,
and four bushels, including shells, of quahaugs; of these four
bushels, not more than two bushels are to be of the size known
as "little necks."

The acceptance of this permit constitutes an agreement by the
holder thereof that he will, and that any other person who for
the time being has or shall have in his custody or possession
any building, boat, barrel, box, tub, crate or other vessel or
receptacle containing or suitable for or capable of containing
shellfish, and belonging to or under the control of the holder
of this permit, shall, at any time or place when requested
so to do by either of said selectmen or by their authorized
agent, or by any constable or fish warden of said town, or
by any other officer authorized to enforce the laws relating
to shellfish or shellfisheries in said town, open any such
building, boat, barrel, box, tub, crate or other vessel or
receptacle, and fully expose to them or either of them the
contents thereof for inspection; and if the holder of this
permit or such other person as aforesaid, when so requested,
refuses or neglects so to do, said selectmen may revoke this
permit or suspend the same for any stated time, at their
discretion.

The holder of this permit is subject to the regulations for
the taking of eels and shellfish as made and posted by the
selectmen, and also to any additional regulations which said
board may hereafter make and publish.

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 selectmen, relating to shellfish
or shellfisheries in said town, said selectmen may revoke
said permit, or suspend the same for any stated time at their
discretion.

No person is allowed by law to take from the waters of
said town, or to sell or offer for sale, or to have in his
possession, any "little neck" clams or quahaugs measuring less
than one and one-half inches across the widest part. Any person
violating this provision of law is liable to a fine of not less
than ten nor more than one hundred dollars.

This permit will expire April 1, 190 , unless sooner revoked.

_Selectmen of Edgartown._

Ernest Ingersoll in 1879 makes the following statement concerning the quahaug fishery of Martha's Vineyard:--

Martha's Vineyard used to be bordered by good quahaug ground,
but I am not aware that many are caught there now. In an old
book I find the following allusion to it: "The poquau (_Venus
mercenaria_) is found in Old Town Harbor, at Cape Poge, and in
Menemsha Pond: great quantities are exported."

A. Howard Clark in 1879 says:--

Soft clams and quahaugs are abundant in the harbor, and are
used by the fishermen for bait.... Three hundred bushels of
quahaugs and sea clams, valued at $150, were taken during the
year 1879.

If such were the conditions in 1879, the industry has had a great development. To-day Edgartown is one of the best quahaug towns of the State, and produces the finest "little necks." Comparing the production figures of 1879 and 1907, a great increase is noted:--

_Production, 1879._

Bushels, 300
Value, $150

_Production, 1907._

Bushels, 20,000
Value, $32,000

SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY.

Area of quahaug territory (acres), 1,800
Number of men, 70
Number of boats, 42
Value of boats, $10,500
Number of dories, 18
Value of dories, $450
Value of implements, $1,050

_Production._

"Little necks":--
Bushels, 8,000
Value, $20,000
Quahaugs:--
Bushels, 12,000
Value, $12,000
Total:--
Bushels, 20,000
Value, $32,000

_Fairhaven._

At Fairhaven the quahaug industry is of considerable importance, and the output from this town alone is nearly half the entire production of Buzzards Bay.

Some 3,000 acres are more or less bedded with quahaugs. Of this, probably not more than one-tenth is very productive. The best quahauging is in Acushnet River, where digging for market has been forbidden because of sewage pollution (see New Bedford), and in Priests Cove as far as Sconticut Neck. In these grounds "little necks" are numerous. The grounds around West Island and Long Island, once very productive, are now largely dug out. Little Bay and the east coast of Sconticut Neck are fairly productive, while the west coast yields only a small amount. Most of the quahaugs now dug come from the deep water west-southwest of Sconticut Neck. Here, with rakes having handles from 40 to 60 feet long, the quahaugers dig in water 7 fathoms or more in depth. The quahaugs, mostly large sharps, are in bluish mud or sticky bottom, and are all large. A number of blunts are found with these large sharps. In the Acushnet River, owing to the enforced closed season, there are a large number of "little necks."

About 115 men are employed now in quahauging. Before the Acushnet River was closed by law, over twice that number are reported to have been engaged in the business. Six power boats and five cat boats, besides a considerable number of skiffs and dories, are used in the fishery.

No permits are required for ordinary quahauging except in the prescribed territory of Acushnet River, where permits to catch a certain amount for bait are given as in New Bedford.

The production for 1879, as given by A. Howard Clark in "The Fisheries of Massachusetts," was 3,000 bushels, which is just one-fifth of the present production. The supply of quahaugs has decreased the last few years, though new territory is constantly being opened up, as the quahaugers go out further into the deeper water. The increased price, however, probably more than counterbalances the decline in production.

SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY.

Area of quahaug territory (acres), 3,000
Number of men, 115
Number of boats, 11
Value of boats, $2,600
Number of skiffs, 100
Value of skiffs, $1,500
Value of implements, $900

_Production._

"Little necks":--
Bushels, 1,000
Value, $2,500
Quahaugs:--
Bushels, 14,000
Value, $14,000
Total:--
Bushels, 15,000
Value, $16,500

_Falmouth._

There is practically no quahaug industry in Falmouth. Hardly 100 bushels are dug annually, and those only for home consumption. A few quahaugs are perhaps shipped by the oystermen.

This town, with its numerous inlets, bays and brackish water ponds, offers perhaps as fine an opportunity for shellfish culture, especially for quahaugs, as exists in Massachusetts. There is no reason why the water of Waquoit Bay and the other brackish ponds should not produce a great supply of quahaugs, if properly worked.

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 Pond, comprising a total of nearly 400 acres. Not all this ground, which is the greater part mud, is capable of producing quahaugs, but many parts could produce good harvests. On the bay side of the town small patches of good quahaugs are found at North Falmouth, Squeteague Pond, West Falmouth harbor on the southeast side, and a few are found in Hadley harbor, Naushon. These, together with the small patches in Great Pond, comprise about 1 acre of good quahaug ground, and are mostly dug by summer people.

In the past twenty-five years there has been a great decline in the quahaug industry, especially in Waquoit Bay, which to-day barely produces 50 bushels. A. Howard Clark states, in 1879:[7]--

Quahaugs are plenty in Waquoit Bay, and are gathered and eaten
by the villagers, but none are shipped. It is estimated that
about 500 bushels of quahaugs are annually consumed by the
people of Falmouth town.

SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY.

Area of quahaug territory (acres), 400
Number of men, --
Number of boats, --
Value of boats, --
Number of dories, --
Value of dories, --
Value of implements, --

_Production._

"Little necks":--
Bushels, 10
Value, $25
Quahaugs:--
Bushels, 90
Value, $90
Total:--
Bushels, 100
Value, $115

_Harwich._

The quahaug fishery of the town of Harwich is carried on in that part of Pleasant Bay which lies within the town limits. In the southern waters of the town, on the Sound side, scattering quahaugs are found in certain localities, but are not of any commercial importance. The most important of those localities are off Dean's Creek and in Herring River, where quahaugs are dug for home consumption.

Harwich shares with Chatham and Orleans the quahaug fishery of Pleasant Bay, but has a more limited territory, as only a small portion of Pleasant Bay lies within the town limits. Practically all this territory, comprising 100 acres, is quahauging ground, though the commercial quahauging is prosecuted over an area of 10 acres only. Scattering quahaugs are found over an area of 100 acres.

As the waters of Pleasant Bay are sheltered, the fishing is all done from dories, with basket rakes having 20 to 25 foot poles. The depth of water over the quahaug beds is from 6 to 16 feet.

In regard to the quahaug fishery in Pleasant Bay, Mr. Warren J. Nickerson of East Harwich, who has been acquainted with the industry for many years, says:--

Pleasant Bay is and has been a very valuable quahaug ground.
Some fifty years ago there were shipped in vessels to New Haven
and other places 13,000 bushels in one year from its waters.
Since then there has been more or less taken from these waters
by fishermen from the towns of Orleans, Chatham and Harwich.
During the last few years there have been 25 regular fishermen
and perhaps 12 transient. Probably 8,000 bushels a year for the
last five years would be a fair estimate of the catch. Thirty
per cent of these were "little necks."

SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY.

Area of quahaug territory (acres), 100
Number of men, 7
Number of boats, --
Value of boats, --
Number of dories, 7
Value of dories, $100
Value of implements, $100

_Production._

"Little necks":--
Bushels, 700
Value, $1,750
Quahaugs:--
Bushels, 800
Value, $800
Total:--
Bushels, 1,500
Value, $2,550

_Marion._

The town of Marion, situated on the western side of Buzzards Bay, possesses a spacious harbor, the waters of which furnish excellent quahaug grounds.

This territory, comprising a total of 400 acres, is chiefly confined to Marion harbor, running in a narrow strip parallel to the shore from Aucoot Cove all along the coast to Planting Island. Almost all the head of the harbor and all of Blankinship's and Planting Island Cove is quahaug area. Small grounds are also found at Wing's Cove and in the Weweantit River.

The town law requires each year the possession of a permit costing $1 before a person is entitled to dig quahaugs for sale. Nineteen of these licenses were issued in 1906, but not more than 2 or 3 of these went to men who depend upon quahauging for a living. The remaining 16 engage in the fishery to a greater or lesser extent in the summer season.

The annual production for 1906 was 800 bushels, valued at $1,500, as about half were "little necks." Mediums are not numerous, and are bought by the quahaug dealers at $1.25 per bushel and sold by them at so much per hundred.

In Marion the quahaug industry once flourished to a marked degree, but at present is very much on the decline. The coves, which once were bedded with "little necks" and quahaugs, are now nearly exhausted. No reasons exist for this condition of affairs, so far as known, except overdigging. Gradually for many years the supply has perceptibly declined, until now it is at a very low ebb. Where a thousand barrels were formerly produced, it is doubtful if a thousand bushels are now dug during the entire season, and the overworked beds are becoming each year more depleted. A. Howard Clark, in his report on the fisheries of Marion, estimates the quahaug production in 1880 as 2,000 bushels. The yield for 1906 is only 800 bushels, which shows an alarming decline in production. If once the waters of Marion could produce a large amount of quahaugs, there is no reason why they cannot again be made to produce the same, or more.

SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY.

Area of quahaug territory (acres), 400
Number of men, 19
Number of boats, --
Value of boats, --
Number of skiffs, 19
Value of skiffs, $200
Value of implements, $50

_Production._

"Little necks":--
Bushels, 400
Value, $1,100
Quahaugs:--
Bushels, 400
Value, $400
Total:--
Bushels, 800
Value, $1,500

_Mashpee._

The quahaug industry at Mashpee is at a low ebb. Natural facilities are favorable, but a lack of initiative on the part of the inhabitants causes a small production. The best grounds are found in Popponessett Bay and River, where a territory of 200 acres includes several oyster grants which are worked but little. On the east side of Waquoit Bay scattering quahaugs are found in Mashpee waters.

There are 3 regular and 4 intermittent quahaugers, with an invested capital of $70, who are obliged by the town laws to have a permit costing $1. The quahaug industry of the town has remained about the same for the last twenty-five years, and now a good quahauger can scarcely average 1½ to 2 bushels per day.

SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY.

Area of quahaug territory (acres), 400
Number of men, 7
Number of boats, --
Value of boats, --
Number of skiffs, 5
Value of skiffs, $50
Value of implements, $20

_Production._

"Little necks":--
Bushels, 25
Value, $60
Quahaugs:--
Bushels, 225
Value, $225
Total:--
Bushels, 250
Value, $285

_Mattapoisett._

The town of Mattapoisett, situated to the west of Marion, receives but little income from her shellfisheries, as the waters are for the most part too open and exposed for shellfish culture. The quahaug fishery is the most important shellfish industry of the town, but even this, when compared with the quahaug fishery of other towns, is rather unimportant, as most of the suitable territory is nonproductive.

Quahaugs are very unevenly distributed over 800 acres. The best quahaugs are found in Aucoot Cove and at Brants. In the main harbor quahaugs are found, though scattering, as indicated on the map.

No licenses or permits are required of the 28 men and boys who add to their income from time to time by quahauging. Most of these depend on other sources of employment for their main support. The industry as a whole is gradually declining, as overfishing has made it impossible for the natural supply to perpetuate itself.

SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY.

Area of quahaug territory (acres), 750
Number of men, 28
Number of boats, --
Value of boats, --
Number of skiffs, 28
Value of skiffs, $425
Value of implements, $75

_Production._

"Little necks":--
Bushels, 400
Value, $1,100
Quahaugs:--
Bushels, 400
Value, $400
Total:--
Bushels, 800
Value, $1,500

_Nantucket._

The quahaug industry of Nantucket ranks second to the main shellfish industry, the scallop fishery, and brings annually about $8,000 to the island. Nantucket is especially adapted for quahaugs, as Nantucket harbor, Maddequet harbor and the Island of Tuckernuck possess extensive territory. In spite of these natural advantages, which are as fine as any in the State, Nantucket produces only 6,000 bushels annually, whereas her resources, under proper cultural methods, warrant an annual production exceeding even that of Wellfleet, which is at present shipping 33,000 bushels.

The quahauging territory of Nantucket is divided into three sections: (1) Nantucket harbor; (2) Maddequet harbor; and (3) Tuckernuck.

In Nantucket harbor quahaugs are found over an area of 2,290 acres, both scattering and in thick patches. The principal areas are situated as follows:--

(1) Near the town between Monomoy Heights and the wharves is a territory of 240 acres. In the deep water directly out from the wharves there has been good quahauging although the bed was discovered only a few years ago.

(2) On the east side of the harbor, between Abram's Point and Pocomo Head, including Polpis harbor, are extensive grounds, comprising about 900 acres, of scattering quahaugs.

(3) On the opposite side of the harbor lies a strip of quahaug territory of 250 acres, which extends between Third Point and Bass Point.

(4) At the head of the harbor on both sides quahaugs are found over an area of 900 acres.

Maddequet harbor on the western end of the island has approximately 300 acres suitable for quahaugs, running from Broad Creek to Eel Point.

On the eastern end of Tuckernuck Island is a bed of quahaugs covering about 200 acres; while on the west side, between Muskeget and Tuckernuck, is a large area of 2,500 acres, which is more or less productive. The Tuckernuck fishery is largely "little necks," and it is from here that the shipment of small "seed" quahaugs has been made.

In the spring and fall men who have been boatmen during the summer work at quahauging. While 48 men work irregularly, about 18 men are engaged in the fishery during the entire summer, though probably never more than 30 are raking at any one time.

The production in 1906, from April I to November I, was 2,159 barrels, or 6,477 bushels; value, $7,557.

PRODUCTION, 1907.[8]

==============+========================================+
| QUAHAUGS |
|---------+-----------+---------+--------+
| Barrels | Average | Bushels | Value |
MONTHS | | price per | | |
| | Barrel | | |
--------------+---------+-----------+---------+--------+
April | 138 | $3.50 | 414 | $483 |
May | 257 | 4.00 | 771 | 1,028 |
June | 460 | 4.00 | 1,380 | 1,840 |
July | 355 | 3.00 | 1,065 | 1,060 |
August | 312 | 3.50 | 936 | 1,092 |
September | 302 | 3.42 | 906 | 1,032 |
October | 123 | 4.00 | 369 | 492 |
November | 50 | 3.00 | 150 | 150 |
+---------+-----------+---------+--------+
Total | 1,997 | $3.60 | 5,991 |$7,177 |
"Little necks"| 101 | | 303 | 1,310 |
+---------+-----------+---------+--------+
Grand total | 2,098 | | 6,294 |$8,487 |
==============+=========+===========+=========+========+

+=======================================================
| | "LITTLE NECKS"
| |---------+-----------+---------+--------
| | Barrels | Average | Bushels | Value
| MONTHS | | price per | |
| | | Barrel | |
+--------------+---------+-----------+---------+--------
|April | -- | -- | -- | --
|May | 4 | $14.00 | 12 | $56
|June | 13 | 14.00 | 39 | 182
|July | 33 | 14.00 | 90 | 462
|August | 20 | 15.00 | 60 | 300
|September | 22 | 10.00 | 66 | 220
|October | 9 | 10.00 | 27 | 90
|November | -- | -- | -- | --
| +---------+-----------+---------+--------
| Total | 101 | $12.97 | 303 |$1,310
+==============|=========+===========+=========+========

The month of June shows the largest production, as the summer people do not arrive in any numbers until July. The men who do the summer boating are engaged in the quahaug fishery during this month, naturally increasing the production.

The principal method is raking from a boat or dory with a long-handled basket rake, very similar in form to the rake used on Cape Cod. The second method, applicable only in shallow water, employs the use of a claw rake with a much shorter handle. The quahauger uses this rake in the shallow water, where he can wade at low tide. The largest claw rakes are often wider than the basket rakes, and are much cheaper.

At Nantucket about 5 per cent. of the entire catch is "little necks," which are found mostly at Tuckernuck. The quahauger usually makes three culls of his catch: (1) "little necks"; (2) medium; (3) large. A few blunts are obtained. The quahaugs are shipped chiefly to New York and Boston markets, either directly by the quahaugers or through Nantucket firms.

The boats used in the industry, numbering 24 sail, 6 power and 10 single dories, and approximating $6,150 in value, are in a way transitory capital, and are used in the winter for scalloping and other fishing. Nevertheless, it is necessary to class them as capital used in the quahaug fishery.

No special town laws are made for the regulation of the Nantucket quahaug fishery, although at any time by vote of the town suitable regulations and by-laws can be made.

Quahaugs have probably always been abundant at Nantucket, as over fifty years ago they were reported as plentiful. It is only of late years that the fishery has assumed any great importance, when the increasing prices, especially for the "little necks," made it profitable for men to enter the business. As it is, many men now quahaug only when they have nothing else to do.

From the statistics of the United States Fish Commission for 1879 we find that the annual catch for that year amounted to 150 bushels, valued at $75. As a striking contrast to this, the present production of 6,294 bushels, valued at $8,487, shows the great development of the fishery, which has been caused by more men entering the business, the opening up of new beds, such as the "little neck" beds of Tuckernuck, and the improved methods of raking in the deep water.

It is rather difficult to state definitely, from lack of past statistical figures, whether Nantucket industry is declining or improving. Between 1879 and 1906 no records are obtainable. The production figures for 1906 show 6,477 bushels, as compared with 6,144 bushels in 1907. Whether there was merely a sudden temporary increase in the supply by the opening up of new beds in 1906, or whether there is a steady decline, can only be determined by the production of future years. Many indications point to the latter, in spite of the assurance of the quahaugers that 1907 was a good season, because of high market prices.

The last few years have witnessed a change in the quahaug fishery,--a realization that there is more money in planting and raising quahaugs than in oyster culture. The out-of-State oystermen, especially in New York, have been the first to realize this, and have been buying, at the rate of $4 to $5 per bushel, all the small quahaugs they can procure, merely replanting, to reap the following year a yield of 3 to 6 bushels for every bushel planted.