OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



191 



are barren, though capable of producing clams; while 100 acres may 

 never be made productive. 



Eight men dig regularly on these flats the year round, and 23 others 

 work intermittently. The capital invested amounts to over $600, and 

 the annual output exceeds 6,000 bushels, valued at $8,000. Most of 

 the clams produced at Gloucester are shucked either for market or bait. 



Local legislation has no bearing on the shellfish question, and no 

 effort is being made either to better conditions in the clam industry or. 

 to check its steady decline. 



The industry has fallen off greatly in the past few years. In 1875 

 there were 90 regular clammers, and a man could dig 6 bushels to a 

 tide, where now 8 regular and 23 intermittent clammers find it difficult 

 to get from l 1 /^ bushels to 3 bushels per tide. 



COMPARISON OP 1907 WITH 1879. 



SUMMARY OP INDUSTRY. 



Number of men, 31 



Capital invested, $600 



Production, 1907 : 



Bushels, 6,000 



Value, $8,000 



Total area (acres) : 



Sand, 250 



Mud, 200 



Gravel, 



Mussels and eel grass, ........ 100 



Total, 550 



Productive area (acres) : 



Good clamming, .......... 75 



Scattering clams, . 100 



Barren area possibly productive (acres), ...... 275 



Waste barren area (acres), ...... . . 100 



Possible normal production, ........ $70,000 



Manchester. 



Manchester has a coast line so much exposed, and consequently so 

 small a territory of tidal flats, that it is not surprising to find its clam 

 industry of very insignificant proportions. Affairs are in much the 

 same state of apathy as at Beverly, though Manchester does not possess 

 the resources of the former town, and could not, in the nature of the 



