188 THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



several by-laws for the protection of shellfish, chiefly in the nature of 

 partial closed seasons; but unfortunately considerable difficulty has 

 been found in enforcing these excellent laws, and the results have been 

 far from satisfactory. 



Ipswich has jealously guarded the rights of its clam flats, and has 

 protected them in every way from the invasion of outsiders, Avhich in 

 part accounts for the excellent condition of these flats, which were 

 originally deeded to the Commoners by the Crown, and from them to 

 the town. Ipswich is the only town in the Commonwealth which has 

 thus directly received its clam flats as its own property, and naturally 

 has done more to improve its natural clam resources than any other 

 town in the State. 



The history of the industry shows little change; some few flats once 

 considered worthless have been opened and utilized; others once pro- 

 ductive have been dug out and allowed to become waste. On the whole, 

 the industry is following the trend of the shellfisheries everywhere, and 

 slowly but steadily declining. 



Summary op Industry. 



Number of men, . . 136 



Capital invested. $7,500 



Production, 1907: — 



Bushels, 25,000 



Value, $18,750 



Total area (acres) : — 



Sand, 390 



Mud, 500 



Gravel, 55 



Mussels and eel grass, 25 



Total, 970 



Productive area (acres) : — 



Good clamming, 400 



Scattering clams, 420 



Barren area possibly productive (acres), 125 



Waste barren area (acres), 25 



Possible normal production, $200,000 



Essex. 

 Essex, while still ranking as an important clam-producing town, has 

 a very imperfect development of her shellfish resources. The total 

 clam flat area comprises some 650 acres, and, though scarcely more than 

 25 acres can be considered as unfit for the growth of clams, and conse- 

 quently barren, only a little more than half the remainder is at all 

 productive, and of this probably less than 150 acres yields any financial 

 return. In other words, 325 acres of good clam flat is allowed to remain 

 practically ban-en. 



