OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



51 



they are observed. Edgartown enforces the IV^-inch quahaug law; 

 Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet have the same law, but fail to enforce 

 it. Many towns allow the small seed quahaugs to be caught and 

 shipped out of the State, thus losing $4 to every $1 gained. These 

 towns refuse to make any regulation, such as a simple size limit, 

 which would remedy this matter, and have no thought for the future of 

 their quahaug industry. All that can be said is that the quahaug laws 

 are the best of the town shellfish regulations, and that is but faint 

 praise. 



Statistics of the Quahaug Fishery. 



In the following table the towns are arranged in alphabetical order, 

 and the list includes only those towns which now possess a commercial 

 quahaug fishery. In giving the number of men, both transient and 

 regular quahaugers are included. In estimating the capital invested, 

 the boats, implements, shanties and gear of the quahauger are alone 

 considered, and personal apparel, such as oil-skins, boots, etc., are not 

 taken into account. The value of the production for each town is based 

 upon what the quahaugers receive for their quahaugs, and not the price 

 they bring in the market. The area of quahaug territory given for 

 each town includes all ground where quahaugs are found, both thick 

 beds and scattering quahaugs. 



