38 THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



is extensive, as the quahaug is raked in all depths of water up to 50 

 feet. In spite of the vast territory nature has provided for the quahaug 

 in the waters of Massachusetts, the commercial fishery is found only 

 in small parts of this large area. Scattered quahaugs are found over 

 the rest of the area, but in paying quantities only in limited places. 



The possibilities of developing this great natural tract of quahaug 

 ground are especially alluring, — far more so than any of the other 

 shellfisheries. The quahaug has a greater area, greater possible ex- 

 pansion and a more profitable market. Nature has equipped southern 

 Massachusetts with numerous bays with remarkable facilities for the 

 production of quahaugs; it only remains for man to make the most of 

 these. 



Method of Work. — The method of work used in preparing this por- 

 tion of the report varied but little from that relating to the other shell- 

 fish, though several features made it harder to obtain accurate informa- 

 tion. There is a more general obscurity about the history of the quahaug 

 than about any of the other shellfish, even though the quahaug industry 

 is commercially the youngest of all. This is due, perhaps, to the gradual 

 rise of the industry through the discovery of new territory. The only 

 historical record obtainable is E. Ingersoll's report on the quahaug, in 

 1S79, in which he deals briefly with the industry in Massachusetts. 

 Town records help but little in determining the history of the industry, 

 as only of late years have the towns required the taking of permits. 



In making the biological survey, the difficulty arises of defining what 

 constitutes quahaug ground, since scattering quahaugs are found over 

 vast territories, but only limited areas are commercially productive. The 

 estimates of the quahaugers, both historically and in regard to produc- 

 tion and areas, are often erroneous and vary greatly. By the use of 

 market reports, express shipments, estimates of dealei-s, estimates of 

 several reliable quahaugers, and all methods at our command, the facts 

 of the industry were compiled and errors eliminated as far as possible. 

 The home consumption is hard to determine, and is merely an esti- 

 mate. The area of the quahaug territory was plotted on the map, and 

 calculations made from the plots. Whenever personal inspection was 

 not possible, as in Falmouth, the estimates of several quahaugers were 

 taken. 



Besults. 



1. Is the Quahaug Fishery declining? — The decline of the quahaug 

 fishery is well recognized. Even the production figures, which, when 

 stimulated by high prices, usually give a deceptive appearance of pros- 

 perity to a declining industry, since more men enter the fishery, show 

 a decline in the last few years. "When such a point is reached, — 

 when, in spite of higher prices and more men, the annual production 

 becomes less and less, — not many years will pass before the industry 

 will collapse completely. 



Increased prices show either an increase in demand or a falling off 



