OF MASSACHUSETTS. 73 



Quahaugs are found over practically the entire territory, and com- 

 prise a total area of about 1,300 acres. Although much of this area 

 is barren, the commercial fishery is maintained by small isolated beds 

 which occur here and there. 



The two principal centers of the industry are in the Wareham River 

 and in Onset Bay. At Onset the whole bay, except the oyster grants, 

 as included between the southeast end of Mashnee Island and Peters 

 Neck, is used for quahauging. A few quahaugs are found in Broad 

 Cove, and fair digging is obtained in Buttermilk Bay and Cohasset 

 Narrows. The Wareham River, outside the oyster grants, and a narrow 

 shore strip from Weweantit River to Tempe's Knob, comprise the 

 rest of the territory. In Onset Channel a fine bed exists in deep water, 

 2 to 4 fathoms, but the ground is so hard that not much digging is 

 done. 



It will be seen from the map that practically 75 per cent, of the 

 quahaug- territory is taken up by oyster grants, especially in the Ware- 

 ham River and Onset Bay. Town sentiment is in a chaotic state over 

 the oyster and quahaug deadlock, and much friction naturally exists 

 between the opposing factions, the quahaugers and oystermen. The 

 struggle between these two parties was at its height several years ago, 

 and the enmity still continues, though not so openly, owing to the decline 

 of the quahaug industry. Rightly managed, affairs ought to be so 

 arranged that prosperity might be brought to both factions; but town 

 customs and town laws, poorly enforced at the best, are hardly able 

 to cope with this evil, which has resulted in much expense legally and 

 financially to both parties, and both industries are badly crippled in 

 consequence, — the oyster industry by lack of protection and the qua- 

 haug industry by loss of grounds. It is hoped that in the future suit- 

 able arrangements can be made for both industries, and that the quahaug 

 industry, which is at present declining, can be put on an equal footing 

 with the oyster industry, by granting licenses to plant and grow qua- 

 haugs. 



Most of the digging is done with garden rakes, potato diggers or 

 by hand. Some tongs are used, but few if any long-handled basket 

 rakes, since the digging is chiefly confined to the shallow water, not 

 more than 10 feet deep, except in Onset Channel, where it ranges from 

 12 to 24 feet. 



No information or statistical records of the quahaug fishery of Ware- 

 ham can be obtained, and it is therefore impossible to draw any com- 

 parison between the present industry and the industry of twenty-five 

 years ago. 



The decline of the quahaug fishery in Wareham is an established 

 fact. The production of 6,000 bushels for 1906 is far less than the 

 production of five years ago. Since 1901 the output has steadily de- 

 clined, and where the quahauger once was able to rake 5 bushels at a 

 tide, to-day he can rake scarcely 1 bushel in the same time. It is only 



