40 THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



Although the quahaug industry has not openly shown the tendency 

 to decline that the soft clam has manifested in southern Massachusetts, 

 the danger is nevertheless very great, and the disaster would be far 

 worse. The fishermen of Cape Cod realize that the clam industry has 

 practically gone; but they are blind to the fact that a far more im- 

 portant one the quahaug industry is in as grave danger, and only 

 when it is too late will they wake to a realization of the situation. 



The clam industry on Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay will never assume 

 the importance it possesses on the north shore, owing to lack of ex- 

 tensive flats. Rather the quahaug industry is the main shellfish industry 

 of the south shore, as it is more valuable, more important, and capable 

 of vast expansion. The development of the quahaug industry should 

 bring many hundred thousand dollars to Cape Cod. 



II. Causes of the Decline. The direct cause is overfishing. The 

 quahaug is hardy, little harmed by climatic changes, and has but few 

 natural enemies. Man alone has caused the decline of the natural 

 supply. Not satisfied with taking the mediums and ^large quahaugs, 

 but spurred on by the high prices offered for the " little neck," the 

 quahaug fisherman has cleaned up everything he can get, and the natural 

 supply has suffered greatly. If the market demands the capture of the 

 " little neck," it is necessary to leave the large quahaugs as " spawners." 

 At the present time, by the capture of both the industry is being ruined. 



The Remedy. Quahaug Farming. 



There is only one way in which the present decline can be checked, 

 and that is, to increase the natural supply by cultural methods to meet 

 the demands of the market. The only way to accomplish this increase 

 is to plant and raise quahaugs, in fact, have a system of quahaug 

 farming for the whole south shore of Massachusetts. In considering 

 quahaug farming, many questions naturally arise: (1) Is quahaug 

 farming an established fact, or a mere theory? (2) Possibilities of 

 quahaug farming. (3) What is the growth of the quahaug, and how 

 long does it take to raise a crop? (4) What .is the value of a quahaug 

 farm? (5) What benefits would the quahaug industry receive from 

 such a system? 



(1) Quahaug Farming an Established Fact, not a Theory. It is 

 not the object of this report to go into a scientific treatise upon experi- 

 ments in quahaug culture. For the past three years the Commission 

 on Fisheries and Game has been conducting experiments upon the 

 growth and culture of quahaugs, the results of which will be published 

 in a subsequent report. These experiments have shown that quahaug 

 farming is no theory, but an established fact, and that, if taken up, it 

 will make the quahaug fishery the most important shellfish industry 

 of the State. These experiments, consisting of small beds one one- 

 thousandth of an acre in area, were located at different places along 

 the coast. Various conditions in regard to food, current, tide, soil, etc., 



