OF MASSACHUSETTS. 57 



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 lV^-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 fisher- 

 men 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 



