THE CLAM INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 585 



The clams are washed soon after they are brought ashore and graded into vari- 

 ous sizes; the most generally recognized grades (in Massachusetts) are "little- 

 necks," "sharps," and "blunts," The "blunts" and "sharps" are the larger grades 

 and are alike in every particular except the thickness of the edge of the shell. 

 The "blunts" are thick-lipped and have a somewhat heavier shell than the "sharps," 

 which are usually lighter in color and have sharp edges. The following dimen- 



iCourtesy Providence Journal-Bulletin^ 



Fig. 27-3. The dredge is dumped by means of an opening at 

 one end. The clams are then culled while the dredge is being towed 

 by the boat. 



sions are illustrative of the size of the grades: "Littlenecks," small, 1.5 to 2.25 

 inches; large "littlenecks," 2.25 to 3 inches; medium "sharps," 3 to 3.75 inches; 

 and large "sharps," 3.75 inches up. Large "httlenecks" correspond approximately 

 with the size known on Long Island and in the New York market as "cherry 

 stones." 



The quahogs are shipped either in barrels or bags. Holes are cut in the bottom 

 and sides of the barrels to allow circulation of air and to permit drainage of water; 

 burlap is used instead of wooden heads. 



If the market for the hard clams is slow at the time of catching, the clams are 

 often bedded in sand on the tidal flats until the market improves. The fisherman 



