OF MASSACHUSETTS. 77 



The above should receive well-deserved praise, as it is one of the 

 most useful town laws ever enacted in Massachusetts. Each quahauger 

 is thus enabled to stake off a little plot 75 feet square on the flats, 

 whereon he can bed his catch whenever the market price is too low for 

 shipment. This not only makes steadier work for the quahaugers, since 

 a dull market does not stop digging, as before, but also enables him 

 to obtain a better price for his quahaugs, and he is not forced to lose 

 through the wastes of competition. 



Quahaugs have always been abundant at Wellfleet. Forty years ago 

 about 15 men were engaged in the business, and shipped their catch to 

 Boston by packet boats, quahaugs then wholesaling at 50 cents per 

 bushel. 



In 1879 (report of the United States Fish Commission) Ernest Inger- 

 soll gives the following account of the quahaug industry at Wellfleet, 

 which furnishes such an excellent comparison with the present industry 

 that it is given here : 



The early productiveness of Cape Cod is shown by the presence of numer- 

 ous shellfish heaps, particularly in Wellfleet and Barnstable harbors, filled 

 up by the Indians, and consisting almost wholly of the shells of this mol- 

 lusk. Though in greatly depleted numbers, the quahaug still survives along 

 the inside of the Cape, and at Wellfleet has been raked from early times 

 by the settlers. Mr. F. W. True contributes some notes on this place, from 

 which I learn that the quahaug fishery as a business there dates from the 

 beginning of the nineteenth century. It grew in extent until 1863, and 

 from that time until 1868 the trade was at its height, since when it has 

 diminished year by year, owing to lack of good market rather than failure 

 of the supply. Between 1863 and 1869 the average catch each year was 

 not less than 2,500 bushels. Of this amount a comparatively small part 

 was consumed at Wellfleet, and the rest were shipped to Boston, Province- 

 town, Salem, Newport, Manchester and a few other New England ports. 

 From 1870 to 1876 the quantity of quahaugs taken per year decreased from 

 2,500 bushels to 1,800 bushels, and this latter amount has remained constant 

 to the present year. Of the total catch in 1878, fully one-half, or 900 

 bushels, was consumed in Wellfleet, and the remaining 900 bushels were 

 shipped to Boston and other neighboring towns. For three years, beginning 

 with 1876, 75 bushels of quahaugs have been annually shipped to New 

 York City. 



Quahaugs are found in all parts of Wellfleet Bay except in a small spot 

 near the wharves, called the "Deep Hole," and a similar one on the west 

 side of the bay. Both of these places are covered with a thick, soft mud. 

 It is not usual, however, to fish in parts of the bay where the average depth 

 at low water exceeds 8 feet. Most of the raking is done on the western side. 

 In ordinary years, quahaug raking is begun the last of March and con- 

 tinues until the first of October. As a general thing, no raking is done 

 through the winter months, although in some years a small amount has been 

 done through holes cut in the ice. The fishermen rake about four tides per 

 week, beginning at half -ebb and raking to half -flood. The boats used are 

 either cat boats or yawls rigged with two sails. Each boat carries 1 man. 



