THE HORSESHOE CRAB 



much unlike a cockle, it lyeth under the sand, 

 every six or seaven of them having a round 

 hole to take ayre and receive water at. When 

 the tide ebs and flowes, a man running over 

 these Clamm bankes will presently be made 

 all wet, by their spouting of water out of those 

 small holes : ... In some places of the coun- 

 trey there bee Clamms as big as a pennie 

 white loafe, which are great dainties amongst 

 the natives, and w^ould bee in good esteeme 

 amongst the English were it not for better 

 fish." He also speaks of the Indian squaw, 



^* Which to the flats daunce many a winters Igge, 

 To dive for Cockles, and to digge for Clamms, 

 Whereby her lazie husbands gut shee cramms." 



The digging of clams is indeed free, but at 

 times much bitterness and some blows have 

 resulted when the inhabitants of one town 

 encroach on the clam flats of a neighboring 

 town. The clam digger is a picturesque indi- 

 vidual. He always appears to be solitary, 

 even if there are a number working together, 

 for each is bent and silent, intent on his own 

 work. With a short rake with long teeth or 

 a fork they skilfully dig up a square foot of 



271 



