96 GEOGRAPHICAL EEVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



47. SCARBOROUGH BEACH, PINE POINT, AND SACO BAY. 



SCARBOROUGH BEACH. The settlement at Scarborough Beach is situated 6 miles south of 

 Portland and 3 miles from the village of Scarborough. The only branch of the fisheries to which 

 the inhabitants give any attention is clam-digging ; in this they are almost as largely interested as 

 the residents of the adjoining settlement of Pine Point. About twenty men from the Beach are at 

 work on the clam-flats the year round, and from September to April the number is increased to 

 forty. Formerly a large part of the clams dug by the people of this settlement, after being shelled 

 and salted, were sold for bait to the fishermen at various places along the coast. Fully 3,000 

 barrels were frequently disposed of in this way during a single season ; but owing to the establish- 

 ment of a cannery, the quantity salted for bait in 1880 did not exceed 1,000 barrels, the bulk of 

 those taken being used for canning purposes. Many are shipped in shell during the year to 

 the Boslon and Portland markets, while a few are sold to peddlers from the smaller towns of the 

 interior. The total catch for 1879 was about 30,400 bushels. 



PINE POINT. At the eastern end of Old Orchard Beach, 8 miles west of Portland, is the 

 railroad station of Pine Point. The place is by many supposed to have been named from Mr. 

 Charles Pine, one of the early settlers, while others contend that the name was suggested by the 

 abundance of pine trees in the locality. The ocean shore in this neighborhood is neither more nor 

 less than a low sandy plain a mile and a half in width, extending inland to the base of a series of 

 elevated ridges known in colonial times as Blue Point Hills. From these heights the spires of 

 Portland are distinctly visible, and during the war of 1812 a signal station was established here to 

 give notice at Portland in case any strange vessels should be seen in the offing. 



Although clams are abundant everywhere in this vicinity, they are taken in greatest numbers 

 on the flats bordering the estuaries of the Dunstan, Spirwink, Libby, and Nonesuch Rivers. 

 The clam-beds on the Dunstan are a quarter of a mile wide, lining both sides of the stream for 2 

 miles from its mouth ; on the Spirwiuk they extend one and a half miles, and are only one-eighth 

 of a mile wide; on the Libby they are a mile in length, and one-fourth of a mile across ; while the 

 Nonesuch has a belt of the same width, along either bank, 3 miles long. It will thus be seen that 

 their total area is equal to that of a strip 7 miles long by a quarter to half a mile broad. These 

 clam-flats are among the most important along this portion of the coast, and it is here that the well- 

 known " Scarboro' clams", which have the reputation of being the best on the New England coast, 

 are obtained. They have an excellent flavor, and are more attractive in appearance than those 

 found in many places, the shells, as well as their contents, looking very white and clean. Some 

 claim that there is danger that such immense numbers of clams will be dug that the species will 

 ultimately become extinct in this region, where they are now so plenty. To guard against such a 

 contingency, the following State law, which is almost wholly neglected elsewhere, is strictly enforced 

 in the town of Scarborough. 



"No person shall take or destroy any shell-fish, or obstruct their growth iu their beds, unless 

 the municipal officers of the town grant him a permit in writing, for an agreed sum for the use of 

 the town, under a penalty of not less than twenty nor more than five hundred dollars." 



In this town licenses are granted for the year, beginning with April 1, to any of the resident 

 fishermen, on the payment of a fee of 25 cents ; no one living outside of the limits of the town being 

 allowed to engage iu the fishery. 



A cannery was established here in 1809 by Messrs. Buruham & Merrill, of Portland, since 

 which time a considerable quantity of clams have been packed annually. The work begins in 

 October and continues till the end of the year. From GO to 80 bushels of clams are used daily, 



