52 THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



Barnstable. 



Barnstable, with its extensive bays both on the north or bay side 

 and on the south or Vineyard Sound side, offers great possibilities for 

 quahaug production. Although the quahaug ranks, in productive value, 

 the third shellfish industry of Barnstable, the natural resources permit 

 an expansion under cultural methods which would place the quahaug 

 ahead of the oyster, which at the present time is the leading shellfish 

 industry of the town. 



In Barnstable harbor, on the north coast of the town, a few quahaugs 

 are found scattered in isolated patches. (See Map No. 9.) These are 

 relatively of small importance commercially, and no regular fishery is 

 carried on. In the future the vast barren flats of this harbor may be 

 made productive of quahaugs as well as clams, although at present the 

 total area of quahaug grounds is hardly 5 acres. 



The greater part of the quahaug industry of Barnstable is conducted 

 on the south shore of the township, which is especially adapted, with 

 its coves and inlets, for the successful growth of this shellfish. The 

 principal fishery is in Cotuit harbor and West Bay, and is chiefly shared 

 by the villages of Osterville, Marston's Mills and Cotuit, which lie on 

 the east, north and west sides, respectively, of the bay. 



While the greater part of Cotuit harbor is taken up by oyster grants, 

 there are certain parts, though limited in area, which are set aside for 

 quahauging. The principal area for quahauging is the flat which runs 

 along Oyster Island. This was originally an oyster grant taken out 

 by Wendell Nickerson, and thrown open to quahaugers to protect the 

 quahaug interests from the oyster planters. This territory, which com- 

 prises 70 acres, is mostly hard sand. Directly west in the center of 

 the harbor lies a strip of 80 acres of mud and eel grass, where both 

 quahaugs and scallops abound. The depth of water on quahauging 

 grounds varies from 1 to 14 feet. 



Scattering quahaugs are found also in Osterville harbor, West Bay, 

 Popponesset River and East Bay. This bottom is practically all sand, 

 and comprises a total of 1,650 acres. This cannot all be considered 

 good quahaug ground, although quahaugs can occasionally be found. 



At Hyannis the quahaug grounds are confined to Lewis Bay, where 

 they cover an area of 800 acres. The quahaugs lie in scattered patches 

 over this area, but in no place is there especially good quahauging. 

 The bottom is hard, usually sandy, with patches of eel grass, while 

 the average depth of water is hardly more than 6 feet. 



In Osterville Bay about 20 men, in Lewis Bay about 5, using the 

 same number of dories, make a business of quahauging in the summer 

 months. Three styles of implements are used: (1) oyster tongs, vary- 

 ing from 8 to 16 feet, according to the depth of water; (2) large 

 basket rakes, with 30-foot handles; (3) ordinary garden rakes, with 

 wire basket, for shallow-water digging. 



At Cotuit the quahaugs run one-third "little necks," one-third 



