REPORT OP COMMISSIONER OP FISH AND FISHERIES. 137 



Of late years oysters are reported to be growing- scarce, which is not surprising, 

 as there has been no good set for a number of years, and the beds are allowed no 

 chance to recuperate. 



The oyster output of Ehode Island is at present obtained almost 

 wholly from private cultivated grounds. These have an area of about 

 701) acres. In 1892 there were taken from these beds 150,080 bushels of 

 marketable oysters, valued at $239,941. As the oysters remain on the 

 beds for about three years, on an average, and as about one-third of the 

 ground gives up these oysters annually, it appears that the average 

 production of marketable oysters to the acre is 070 bushels, valued at 

 $1,020. The natural oyster beds of the State have become practically 

 unproductive of marketable oysters. In 1S92 only 2,000 bushels, val- 

 ued at $2,075, were taken off the natural grounds. In addition to these, 

 14,80r> bushels of small oysters, worth $5,783, were obtained, which 

 were used for planting purposes. 



A st riking illustration of the utility of a rational system of water cul- 

 ture applied to mollusks is seen by comparing the oyster with other 

 shellfish the beds of which are not subject to private ownership except 

 on an exceedingly small scale. The susceptibility of the soft clam, the 

 quahog, and the scallop to cultivation is perhaps as pronounced as that 

 of the oyster, and the comparison is therefore fair. While the average 

 quantities of soft clams, of quahogs, and of scallops taken for market 

 in the New England States in 1892 were, respectively, 227 bushels, 151 

 bushels, and 170 bushels per man, the average quantity of oysters was 

 1,892 bushels per man. The incomes of the fishermen from the sale of 

 these products indicate a similar disparity, being $125 per man for soft 

 clams, $108 per man for quahogs, $141 per man for scallops, and $1,53G 

 per man for oysters. 



The clam fishery. — Clams are among the most valuable fishery 

 resources of the Xew England States, and their collection constitutes 

 one of the most extensive and important branches of the fisheries. 

 Throughout this region the soft (dam or long clam (Mya arenaria) is 

 found abundantly; but it is only along the southern part of the const 

 that the quahog or round clam (if ercenaria mercenaria) occurs. The 

 former is the more abundant and important species, considering the 

 yield in the aggregate; it is especially prominent in Maine and Massa- 

 chusetts. The quahog is most important in southern Massachusetts. 



The number of persons engaged in clamming is larger than in any 

 other fishery under consideration, with the exception of the lobster. 

 Over 3,300 persons in 1892 took clams for a livelihood during some part 

 of the year. In Maine there were more than 1,900 clam fishermen and 

 in Massachusetts over 800. Owing to the inexpensive outfit required 

 for clamming and the comparative ease with which the clams are taken, 

 this fishery is of great assistance to the poorer classes in the fishing 

 communities; and it is a saying along parts of the .Maine coast that 

 "the clam beds keep many people off the town." The semiprofes- 

 sional nature of the fishery in Maine may be judged from the circum- 



