REPORT ON THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES OF 

 MASSACHUSETTS. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The general plan of the work was outlined by the chairman 

 of the Commission on Fisheries and Game, who has given at- 

 tention to such details as checking up scientific data, editing, 

 revising, and confirming results, reports, etc. The work has 

 been under the direct charge and personal supervision of the 

 biologist to the commission, Mr. D. L. Belding. The able 

 services of Prof. J. L. Kellogg of Williams College were early 

 enlisted, and many valuable results which we are able to offer 

 are the direct outcome of the practical application of the 

 minute details discovered by Professor Kellogg in his careful 

 study and original investigations of the anatomy and life his- 

 tories of the lamellibranch mollusks. 



Of the other workers who, under the direction of Mr. Belding, 

 have contributed directly, special mention should be made of 

 Mr. J. E. Stevenson of Williams College, W. G. Vinal of Har- 

 vard University, F. C. Lane of Boston University, A. A. Per- 

 kins of Ipswich and C. L. Savery of Marion. Those who 

 have for a briefer time been identified with the work are R. 

 L. Buffum, W. H. Gates and K. B. Coulter of Williams Col- 

 lege, and Anson Handy of Harvard University. 



In addition to the results here given, much valuable knowl- 

 edge has been acquired, particularly upon the life histories of 

 the scallop and of the quahaug, and the practical application of 

 this knowledge to the pursuit of sea farming. It is hoped 

 that the commission will later be enabled to publish these re- 

 sults. 



The present report is limited to a statement of the condition 

 of the shellfish in each section of our coast, and to considera- 

 tion of practical methods for securing increased opportunities 



