— 33 



l)elt or over the shoulder or what is now more common, a long netted 

 bag or "drag" with a light wooden hoop to hold the mouth open. 

 Tliis is usually fastened to the belt with a "snap" as there often arise 

 occasions when the waves place a digger where fifty to eighty pounds 

 of clams are a distinct embarrassment and must be quickly cast off.* 

 The sack is long enough to rest on the ground so that the weight is not 

 directly borne, but dragged along, hence the name (see figure 21). 



As was before stated, the clams in the shallowest water are earliest 

 cleaned out so that at this present time the lowest tide is the best, and 



1 Geai u^ I 1 I-,-, I ^ i i--iii'j cl.jjiis, 

 Oceano "Rake ' with eKltribiun haiitUe and rope 

 by which it is pulled through sand, fork and 

 "drag" with snap and belt. 



Other things being equal, the tallest man gets the most clams. As a 

 result of this, the digger will be seen working far out from shore as 

 shown in figure 1 and since on these exposed beaches the surf is never 

 ceasing, it is not uncommon to see the combers break over the shoulder 

 or even the head of the digger, though at other times he may be only 

 waist deep. At times this may partake of the exhilaration of surf- 

 riding with an anchor of clams to prevent l)eiiig swept too far, but at 

 sunrise of a foggy day with a cold wind whipping the spray from the 

 breakers it is a life of exposure. 



Another danger is also present. The channels separating the bars 

 from the higher beach are often deeper than can be waded and with 

 swift currents. Sometimes such a bar can be reached only at a single 

 point where the channel is partially bridged by a spit and the location 

 of this must be carefully kept in mind when returning from the bar. 



*A case of drowning due to neglect of this precaution has occurred since writing 

 the above lines. 

 3—6453 



