232 



THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



Summary of Industry. 



Number of men, 



Capital invested, ...... 



Production, 1907: — 



Bushels, 



Value, 



Total area (acres) : — 



Sand, 



Mud, 



Gravel, 



Mussels and eel grass, .... 



Total, 



Productive area (acres) : — 



Good clamming, 



Scattering clams, 



Barren area possibly productive (acres), . 

 Waste barren area (acres), 



4 



$40 



400 



$350 



150 



25 



25 



200 



5 



15 



130 



50 



Possible normal production, $18,000 



Edgartown. 



Although Edgartown possesses 200 acres of clam flats, it is not in a 

 true sense a clam-producing town. The reason for this small production 

 is due to the nature of the flats, which are mostly under water at low 

 tide, making clamming difficult. Naturally Edgartown devotes its 

 energies to the more profitable quahaug and scallop fisheries. 



The clam flats of the town are situated along the shores of Cape 

 Poge Pond and in the lower part of Katama Bay, where many acres 

 of flats are continually submerged. The shore flats are of small area, 

 owing to the light rise and fall of the tide, less than 3 feet at this part 

 of the coast. 



(1) Cape Poge Pond. — Scattering clams are found all along the 

 shore flats, except for a %-mile strip on the west side. The soil is of a 

 coarse sand or gravel. 



(2) Katama Bay. — The best clam flats of the town are situated in 

 Katama Bay, and extend over a considerable territory. These flats, 

 consisting of a coarse, sandy soil, lie continually submerged. Here the 

 clams are dug by means of a " sea horse." This " animal " is nothing 

 more than an elongated clam hoe with a belt attachment, whereby the 

 Hammer can " churn " out the clams at a depth of 2 to 3 feet. 



