SURF CLAM FISHERY 



Fishing Gear and Methods 



The surf clam has become a major fish- 

 ery resource in the coastal waters of southern 

 New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. Follow- 

 ing explorations in 1949, which disclosed 

 extensive, virgin beds of these large molluscs 

 in the sand shoals in the vicinity of Five Fathom 

 Bank, a commercial fishery for canning pur- 

 poses was established. From 1950 through 1953, 

 annual production from these waters averaged 

 nearly 500,000 bushels (5.7 million pounds of 

 meats), valued at about $750,000 to the fisher- 

 men. Prior to 1950, the catch was utilized 

 chiefly for bait in the sport and commercial 

 fisheries in New Jersey, and total landings in 

 the peak year, 1940, amounted to only 45,000 

 bushels. 



The surf clam, or "skimmer", is the 

 largest clam on the Atlantic seaboard, reaching 

 up to 8 inches in length. This species is known 

 to occur on the Atlantic coast of North America 

 from Labrador to Cape Hatteras, but is exploit- 

 ed most intensively in the central part of its 

 range. Surf clams live in beds on hard, sandy 

 bottom, from shallow water to known depths of 

 over 120 feet. 



Surf clams are caught by means of a 

 dredge consisting, essentially, of an iron frame 

 that forms the mouth, an adjustable digging 

 blade, a mesh bag for collecting the catch, and 

 a hydraulic water system . The dredge is 

 mounted on sled runners and towed along the 

 bottom by means of a cable attached to a power - 

 driven winch. Power for the water system is 

 supplied by either a gasoline or diesel engine 

 driving a centrifugal pump. A heavy duty rubber 

 hose from 3 to 5 inches in diameter connects the 

 pump with the dredge . An intake is provided by 

 trailing a 6- to 8 -inch diameter hose over the 

 stern of the vessel. As the dredge is being towed 

 along the bottom, numerous jets of water are 

 directed downward, under pressure, in front of 

 the blade. By this means the clams are loosened 

 from the substrate and excess sand and debris 

 washed off as the clams enter the mouth of the 

 dredge . 



Surf clam dredging is carried on through- 

 out the year. Vessels make one day trips to the 

 fishing grounds . Occasionally, during periods 

 of favorable weather in the winter months, some 

 of the larger vessels may spend two days at sea. 



Vessels 



The surf clam fleet is comprised of 

 regular fishing vessels of the dragger type 

 which have been converted for dredging purposes . 

 Several Florida shrimp boats and one or two 

 oyster boats have also been converted for surf 

 clam operations. Vessels range in size from 

 31 to 78 feet in length and from 10 to 73 gross 

 tons. Most are powered with diesel engines of 

 100 to 200 horsepower. They are operated by a 

 crew of two to three men, depending on vessel 

 size. 



Most of the fishing is done in 90 to 100 

 feet of water. Some of the larger boats operate 

 in maximum depths of 120 feet. Suitable bottom 

 for operation of the dredge is located by means 

 of a recording echo-sounder. The dredge is 

 lowered over the side of the vessel and towed 

 for a period of about 15 minutes. The mesh bag 

 containing the catch is then hauled aboard and 

 emptied on deck . If the tow was productive, the 

 dredge is lowered for another tow while the catch 

 is sorted and placed in coarse burlap bags. Each 

 bag holds approximately 80 pounds of clams, or 

 a bushel measure. 



The size of the clam fleet varies because 

 some vessels shift to clam dredging for a per- 

 iod and later change back to otter trawling. Of 

 the 68 vessels that were engaged in the fishery 

 at some time during 1953, only 46 operated 

 consistently. The total number of vessels en- 

 gaged in the fishery each year from 1950 through 

 1953 is given in table 8. The size of the fleet 

 had nearly doubled over the 4-year period. 



Fishing Grounds 



The grounds fished by the New Jersey, 

 Delaware, and Maryland surf clam fleets extend 

 roughly from Atlantic City, New Jersey, to Winter 

 Quarter Lightship, in 8 to 20 fathoms of water. 

 Prior to 1950, clamming for bait purposes was 

 confined to the ocean beaches of southern New 

 Jersey. With the development of the canning in- 

 dustry, however, the importance of the offshore 

 beds was recognized. 



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