138 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



stance that the average value of the clams taken in 1892 was only 

 per man. 



The New England clam catch in 1892 was 759,402 bushels, valued at 

 $462,889. The yield of soft clams was 667,509 bushels, valued at 

 $362,477, and that of quahogs 91,893 bushels, with a market value of 

 $100,412. The production of each species by States is given in the 

 following table: 



Production of soft clams 

 quahogs. 



and 



States. 



Bushels. 



Soft clams. 



Quahogs 



Total. 



Maine 41G, 806 



New Hampshire > 1, 050 



Massachusetts j 191, 923 



Rhode Island ' 33, 950 



Connecticut | 23, 780 



Total I G67, 509 



Maine 



New Hampshire. 



Massachusetts. . . 



Rhode Island 



Connecticut . 



Value. 



$157,431 



975 



133, 529 



15, 222 



25, 320 



362, 477 



Total . 



Maine 



New Hampshire . 

 Massachusetts . . 



Rhode Island 



Connecticut 



Total 



54, 823 

 19,950 

 17, 120 



61,801 

 20, 275 

 18, 336 



91,893 | 100,412 



416,806 

 1,050 



246, 746 

 53, 900 

 40, 900 



759, 402 462 



157,431 

 975 



195,330 

 65,497 

 4:s, 656 



In Maine a large part of the clams taken are salted, to be used as 

 bait in the line fisheries for cod and other ground fish. The salted 

 clams are placed in barrels holding about 12 bushels of shucked clams. 

 In 1892, 75,269 bushels were thus utilized in the preparation of 5,938 

 barrels of clam bait, for which the fishermen received $27,044. Not- 

 withstanding the increase in the clam production in 1892 as compared 

 with 1880, the quantity of clams salted for bait was much greater in 

 1880, being 178,164 bushels, from which were prepared 12,726 barrels of 

 pickled clams, valued at $63,630. 



Between 1880 and 1892 the output of soft clams fluctuated consid- 

 erably; in Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, the yield in 1889 

 was larger than in any other year for which complete data are avail- 

 able, the aggregate catch being double that in 1880. The season of 

 1S92 was unusually poor in both Maine and Massachusetts; the catch 

 was but little more than in 1880, and the total production of the region 

 was hardly 100,000 bushels more than in 1880. The years 1887 and 

 18S8 also had a larger output than 1880 and 1892. 



The yield of quahogs in 1892 was perhaps the largest known up to 

 that time. Massachusetts experienced a noteworthy advance, which 

 counterbalanced the decline in Rhode Island and Connecticut. The 

 abundance of this niollusk, however, seems to have been singularly 

 uniform, as judged by the aggregate catch, the smallest production, in 

 1S89, being only 25 per cent less than the largest in 1S92. 



