4S THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



These two industries join so well, scalloping in the winter and qua- 

 hauging in the summer, that a shellfisherman has work practieallj* 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 qua- 

 haugs 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 quahang 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 popu- 

 larity 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 Wellfieet are as follows: (1) "little 

 necks," small, l%-2}4 inches; large, 2^4-3 inches; (2) medium 

 "sharps," 3-3 3 /4 inches; (3) large "sharps," 3% 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 Wellfieet, 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 pro- 

 tection is guaranteed, public opinion recognizes the right of each man 

 to his leased area, and this alone affords sufficient protection for the 



