46 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



merits. A fortnight later the box was taken up. In one side, 

 neither the snail or any bored shells were found ; while on the 

 other side, the Neverita was found five inches below the surface 

 of the ground near a shell of a clam which had evidently just been 

 eaten. The bored shells of seven others bore witness to the 

 snail's voracity. 



Paddler Crabs (Blue crabs). — There is a general belief among 

 clam diggers that the paddler crab is an enemy of the clam. Some 

 consider them to be the controlling factor in determining whether 

 the clams in any season will be abundant or not. Often large 

 holes are found where the young set is abundant. These holes 

 have an appearance similar to those which hens might scoop out 

 in making nests, and some longshoremen have seen the " paddler " 

 digging down and picking out the little clams. In order to acer- 

 taiu exactly the amount of injury which the crabs might inflict upon 

 clams, three large ones measuring 5 inches across the back were 

 confined in a space (3 ft. x 3 ft.) in one of the commission beds 

 where the clams averaged about 26 to the square foot. The box 

 had the bottom removed, and was covered over with wire screen so 

 the paddlers could be observed without removing the box. A 

 little over a month later (35 days) the box was finally removed. 

 Only one crab remained alive, and there were no signs of its having 

 attempted to dig, although the clam holes were very thick under 

 the box. 



an a(t in amendment of chapter 174 of the general laws of 

 Huode Island, "Of the Inland Fisheries." 



[Passed March 29, 1901.] 



// is enacted by ih< General Assembly as follows : 



Section i. Section 2 of chapter 174 of the General Laws is hereby 

 amended so as to read as follows : 



"Sec. 2. The commissioners <>f inland fisheries shall introduce, protect, 

 and cultivate lisli in the inland waters of the state, and may make all 

 oeedful regulations fur the protection of such fish, and shall prosecute for 



