OF MASSACHUSETTS. 59 



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 sus- 

 pend 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 fol- 

 lowing 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 neeks." 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 



