136 GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



IPSWICH. The town of Ipswich is situated iu Essex County, 27 miles northeast of Boston. A 

 river of the same name, rising in the adjoining county of Middlesex, 25 miles to the southwest, 

 flows through the town and into the bay, about 4 miles distant. The harbor, by reason of shifting 

 sand-bars, affords an indifferent entrance to vessels. No improvement iu these obstructions has 

 been effected since the first settlement of the town. 



The fishery industries of Ipswich have greatly diminished, owing to the desertion of the river 

 by the salmon, bass, shad, and other fish. Manufacturing interests have increased, but at the 

 same time have aided, by the emptying of unhealthy matter into the river from the factories, in 

 the extermination of many fisheries which once were in a flourishing condition. One hundred and 

 twenty years ago the fisheries of Ipswich had fallen 50 per cent., the number of fishing schooners 

 being but six. 



The clam industry, of especial importance in the early history of this place, has steadily 

 decreased. The flats, out of which the clams were formerly dug iu such profusion, extend from 

 Rowley on the north to Essex ou the south, including an area of 10 miles in length by half a mile in 

 width. An attempt has been made to restore the clam flats to their former state of abundance by 

 planting new beds, but this attempt has been fruitless. Between 1870 and 1880 there was no 

 restriction as to the time for digging clams, but in 1880 a close season was declared by law, whereby 

 clam digging was prohibited from May 15 to October 15. An exception to this town law was pro- 

 vided by a State law which allowed any fisherman to dig two bushels for bait. Permits are now 

 required to be given to men before they arc allowed to dig at all for clams. The permits are issued 

 by the selectmen, into whose hands the town has intrusted the safe keeping of the clam-flats. Those 

 to whom such permits may be granted must be citizens of the place. Any offense against this town 

 law renders the offender liable to arrest, and to a fine of $1 per bushel for all clams dug by him, 

 and the confiscation of all tools and equipments. 



Under these restrictions, seventy-five men were employed in clam digging from March 1 to- 

 June 1, 1879; and from November 1, 1879, to March, 1880, fifty men were engaged in the same 

 business. The clams were sold for $1 per barrel in the shell, or 25 cents per gallon shelled. For 

 fishing purposes they were sold by the water-bucketful for 50 cents, or at $4 a barrel shelled for 

 fresh bait, and $3 a barrel for salt bait. A bushel of salt to a barrel of clams is required for 

 "full-salted" bait, and for "slack-salted" from half a peck to half a bushel of salt. This mixture 

 sells, according to the quantity of salt used, from $4 to $5 per barrel. In the season of 1879-'80 

 500 barrels were put up for bait. When this small number is contrasted with the several thousand 

 barrels formerly prepared for the same purpose, the decrease is very apparent. It must be added, 

 however, that a demand for clams formerly not in existence has lately sprung up; this is to supply 

 clams as food iu Boston and other neighboring cities. For this purpose, between June 15 and 

 September 15, 1879, 40 barrels each week were shipped in the shell to Salem. Between December 

 1, 1879, and April 1, 1880, 60 barrels of clams in the shell aud 280 gallons of shelled clams were 

 shipped weekly to Boston and towns iu the neighborhood. 



The importance of the small herring, or sperling, fishery is still great, very large numbers 

 being captured; the operation of taking them is curious and may be briefly told. Night is the 

 time for capture. Three men go in a dory, 18 to 22 feet in length, at the bow of which a bright 

 light is placed. This light attracts the fish round the boat, into which they are quickly bailed. 

 A boat-load or the disappearance of the fish causes a homeward course to be taken. In 1879 

 fifteen boats caught about 200 barrels each, aggregating 3,000 barrels. 



There is now a great interest taken in the manufacture of isinglass from fish sounds. In olden 

 times the crude sounds were thoroughly cleaned aud in that condition were sold and used as ism- 



