70 FISHERIES OF THE NEW ENGLAND STATES. 



Clams. — The quantity of hard clams taken has increased from 

 106,818 bushels, valued at $131,139, in 1902, to 166,526 bushels, 

 valued at $288,987, in 1905. The larger portion of the catch was 

 taken at Wellfieet and Orleans, in Barnstable County, and from that 

 portion of Pl^miouth County bordering Buzzards Ba}^. The increased 

 production and advance in price has made the fishery very profitable. 



The yield of soft clams has decreased in quantity but increased in 

 value, the catch for 1905 being 217,519 bushels, valued at $209,545. 



Oysters. — The oyster industry shows a gratifying increase, the total 

 catch in 1905 amounting to 142,230 bushels, valued at $221,990, an 

 increase of 38,844 bushels since 1902. Very few seed oysters are 

 taken, the catch amounting to 29,650 bushels. Barnstable County 

 ranks first in the production of oysters, Osterville, Wellfieet, and 

 Cotuit being the principal towns from which they are shipped. Ply- 

 mouth County is next in importance, the oyster beds being located 

 near the head of Buzzards Bay, in the waters of Wareham township. 



Scallops. — The scallop fisher}' is carried on in five counties of this 

 state, Nantucket leading in the quantity and value of the catch. 

 In 1905 the products amounted to 43,872 bushels, valued at $98,712. 



Irish moss. — Irish moss (Chrondrus crispus) is an edible seaweed 

 found at various places along the New England coast, but more par- 

 ticularly in the vicinity of Scituate and Plymouth. Nearly the entire 

 crop is cUsposed of to brewers and to firms handling brewers' supplies, 

 a very small percentage going to wholesale druggists and grocers. 

 The product in 1905 was 765,000 pounds, valued at $30,600. 



The season for gathering the moss begins in May and ends in Sep- 

 tember. The height of the season is reached during the months of 

 June and Jul3^ The moss, having fully ripened at this time, is j^ellow 

 in color and easily distinguished from the mass of vegetation sur- 

 rounding it. 



A long-handled rake, operated from a boat, is the only apparatus 

 used in gathering moss. In fair weather a good day's work is about 

 150 pounds of moss to the man. 



]Vhales. — The whaling fleet of Massachusetts numbered 22 vessels, 

 19 hailing from New Bedford and 3 from Provincetown. The products 

 consisted of 524,474 gallons of oil, valued at $246,565; 55,950 pounds 

 of whalebone, valued at $193,037, and 94 pounds of ambergris, valued 

 at $16,900. 



Sea elephants. — One vessel from New Bedford engaged in the cap- 

 ture of sea elephants, the products of the venture amounting to 

 $25,600. This fishery is not prosecuted regularly, only an occasional 

 vessel engaging in it. The location of the fishery is Kerguelen or 

 Desolation Island, in the Southern Indian Ocean. The season begins 

 about October 1 and closes in February following. The animals 

 are taken for their hides and oil. They are killed on the shore with 



