46 THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



and each year it is increasing, because of the opening of new beds. 

 On the other hand, the shallow-water grounds are rapidly becoming 

 barren from overfishing. 



The deep-water quahauging is harder work, requires considerable 

 capital but has fewer working days. Naturally the earnings from this 

 fishery should surpass those of the shallow-water industry. The deep- 

 water quahauger averages from $5 to $8 for a working day, while the 

 shallow-water fisherman earns only from $2 to $3 per day. 



Deep-water Quahauging. — Both power and sail boats are used in 

 deep-water quahauging, though power is gradually replacing the old 

 method of sailing, because of its increased efficiency and saving of time. 

 When the quahaug grounds are reached, the boat is anchored at both 

 bow and stern, one continuous rope connecting both anchors, which are 

 from 500 to 600 feet apart, in such a way that the bow of the boat is 

 always headed against the tide. A sufficient amount of slack is required 

 for the proper handling of the boat, which can be moved along this 

 anchor " road " as on a cable, and a large territory raked. The rake 

 is lowered from the bow of the boat, the length of the handle being 

 regulated by the depth of the water, and the teeth worked into the sandy 

 or muddy bottom. The quahauger then takes firm hold of the cross- 

 piece at the end of the handle, and works the rake back to the stern of 

 the boat, where it is hauled in and the contents dumped on the culling 

 board or picked out of the net. In hauling in the net the rake is turned 

 so that the opening is on top, and the mud and sand is washed out be- 

 fore it is taken on board. The long pole passes across the boat and 

 extends into the water on the opposite side when the rake is hauled in. 

 This process is repeated until the immediate locality becomes unprofit- 

 able, when the boat is shifted along the cable. 



The usual time for quahauging is from half ebb to half flood tide, 

 thus avoiding the extra labor of high-water raking. Deep-water raking 

 is especially hard labor, and six hours constitute a good day's work. 



Boats. — Nearly all kinds of boats are utilized in the quahaug fishery, 

 and are of all values, from the $10 second-hand skiff to the 38-foot 

 power seine boat, which costs $1,500. The shallow-water industry re- 

 quires but little invested capital. Dories and skiffs are the principal 

 boats, costing from $10 to $25. Occasionally a sail or power boat 

 may be used in this fishery. The deep-water industry requires larger and 

 stronger boats. These are either power or sail boats, often auxiliary 

 " cats," and their value runs anywhere from $150 to $1,500. The 

 average price for the sail boats is $250, while the power boats are 

 assessed at $350. At Orleans several large power seine boats, valued at 

 about $1,500, are used in the quahaug fishery. These seine boats are 

 30 to 38 feet over all, have low double cabins, and are run by 8 to 12 

 horse-power gasolene engines. The ordinary power boats have gaso- 

 lene engines from 2 to 6 horse-power. In this way each method of 

 quahauging has its own boats, which are adapted for its needs. 



