584 



HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



as well as they can. They seem able to endure great cold without harm. Professor Agassiz found 

 within their shells icicles, which did not incommode them in the least. 



The utilization of the soft clam as human food and as bait forms an important element of the 

 marine wealth and industries of the United States, and has been carefully kept in view during the 

 progress of the present investigations. 



3. SOFT-CLAM FISHERY OF MAINE. 



Though occurring in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, clams are little eaten there. In the Bay of 

 Fundy, however, they are constantly dug in sufficient quantity for household use, and the shell- 

 heaps left by the Indians consist almost wholly of these shells. The absence of extensive mud 

 flats bordering the sea along this precipitous and rock-bound coast, however, makes it unsuitable for 

 the growth of clams to any great extent until the bay at Jonesport, Me., is reached, where between 

 that town and Rogue Island are very important diggings. From there all along the shore to 

 West Goldsborough these mollusks are got in variable quantities. At West Gouldsborough, how- 

 ever, they exist in great abundance. The next important point is Mount Desert, or rather Bartlett's 

 Island, close by, which yields more than Mount Desert ; beyond which few are found as far as Kg- 

 gemoggin Reach, where between Deer Island and the mainland enormous quantities of clams are 

 got for local consumption and for sale. Northward of this point, Isleborough, in the mouth of the 

 the Peuobscot River, is a very productive ground, but between the Penobscot and Casco Bay there 

 are only small diggings, nor any deserving special mention between Portland and Portsmouth. 



The point of special interest on this coast, as a clam locality, is Deer Island, not only because 

 of its extreme productiveness, but also because it is the only place in the United States where 

 women make a practice of digging clams. 



For statistics of the coast of Maine I am indebted to Mr. R. E. Earll, of the U. S. Fish Com- 

 mission, who furnishes them as follows : 



As I have intimated, the greater part, perhaps nine-tenths, of these clams are prepared for 

 bait, an account of which is deferred until a later paragraph. Those used as food tire eaten at 

 home by the persons catching, who are the farmers and villagers living near the shore, or who come 

 down, picnic fashion, from the interior, as did the Indians of yore, to enjoy a feast of clanis and 

 sea-side recreation, or they are disposed of in the markets of the coast towns. I think few are sent 

 toBoston from farther away than Scarborough, in Maine. According to theHistory of Scarborough, 

 by the way, " It was not until within a few years [previous to 1852] that any of our citizens made 

 it a part of their yearly business to procure clam-bait for the fishermen on the Banks. The clam-flats 

 have now become a source of considerable profit to many of the townsmen. During the winter 

 and spring of the present year (1852) they have procured nearly 2,000 barrels of this bait." 



