54 THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



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 conse- 

 quence. 



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, how- 

 ever, 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 YTareham 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 



