178 



THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



CLAM PRODUCTION TABLE FOE MASSACHUSETTS, OBTAINED FROM THE EEPORTS 

 OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



The Clam Industry.' 



Methods of Digging. The ordinary method of taking clams is so 

 simple as hardly to need explanation. Although simple, clam digging 

 requires considerable skill, and it takes years of experience to become 

 a good clammer. 



There are two methods of clam digging used in Massachusetts, 

 the " wet " and the " dry " digging. Wet digging is carried on when 

 water is over the clam beds; dry digging, which is the common method, 

 takes place when the flats are left exposed by the tides. The only 

 places in Massachusetts where wet digging is carried on regularly are 

 Eastham, Chatham, Swansea, and in Katama Bay, Edgartown. In 

 the lower end of Katama Bay is found a submerged bed of clams 

 which is one of the most productive beds of this class in Massachusetts. 

 These submerged clams are taken with what is known locally as a " sea 

 horse/' which is an enlarged clam hoe, with prongs 12 to 14 inches 

 long, and a strong wooden handle four feet in length. This handle 

 has a belt attachment which is buckled around the clammer. Two men 

 are required for this work. The sea horse is worked deep into the loose 

 sand and is dragged along by one man, who wades in the shallow water 

 over these submerged flats, while his partner follows, gathering the 

 clams which the sea horse roots out. Another method of wet digging is 

 called " churning," and is based on the same principle as the above 

 method, only the clams are turned out under water by long forks or 

 hoes. This method is not used in Massachusetts to any extent. Excel- 

 lent results are usually obtained from wet digging. 



The methods used in dry digging depend upon the nature of the soil. 

 The difference lies only in the kind of digger. The clam hoe of the 

 south shore, where the soil is either coarse sand or gravel, has broad 

 prongs, some even being 1*4 inches across. The usual number of prongs 

 is four, but occasionally three broad prongs suffice. The clam hoe of 

 the north shore, often called " hooker," has four thin, sharp prongs 



