APPENDIX III APPENDIX III 
that would continuously lift clams from the dredge to the 
deck would save time in comparison with present operations. 
Prototypes of equipment have demonstrated that this principle 
is workable. One industry official stated that it may not 
be adopted because it would require more than the normal two- 
or three-man crew and that it may not be economically prac- 
tical. He stated, however, that more efficient gear is 
needed. 
More efficient hard clam harvesting is possible in some 
public areas; however, the two leading hard clam States limit 
harvesting in these areas to hand implements and power dred- 
ges, for example, are not permitted. Hand gear is used in 
both States in public areas, and fishermen have adapted to 
its use. State officials stated that hard clam fishermen 
generally oppose dredges in public areas. Also, State of- 
ficials believe that using dredges without strict controls 
could lead to depletion, especially since they believe the 
resource is being fished at about sustainable levels. 
Soft-clam-harvesting methods could be more efficient ac- 
cording to a Maine official. Use of hand dredges, original- 
ly developed for limited use in mildly polluted areas, but 
having applicability in most areas, would cause less mortal- 
ity of clams left in the flats and would allow increased 
yields from the fishery. Fishermen have opposed permitting 
general use of the hand dredge, according to a State of- 
ficial, because they believe its use would upset the tradi- 
ional ways of the fishery and cause both a loss of income 
and employment for many of them. 
Washington clam fishery has adequate harvesting capabi- 
lity as mechanical harvesters from the east coast have been 
adapted to meet most harvesting conditions on the Pacific 
Coast. Some types of hydraulic dredges are very efficient. 
For example, one type has been reported as catching 95 per- 
cent of the marketable clams in its path with less than 1 
percent breakage. 
A drag dredge, similar to the eastern surf clam dredge, 
is being tested in Alaska to harvest the abundant razor clam 
resource which historically has been harvested by hand dig- 
ging. This mechanical harvester is capable of harvesting 
during high tides and in subtidal waters. In recent years 
several manual hydraulic diggers have been developed and 
used. Although mechanical harvesters are available and in 
use, many small operators still hand dig clams. 
58 
