586 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHEEIES. 



teams around to the huts weekly or daily, according to the weather, and carry them to their store- 

 houses, and repack and salt them and head them up in barrels, when they are ready for the 

 market." 



The price paid in Massachusetts is considerably, higher than the average price in Maine, 

 because of the nearness to a good market, and may be placed at 39 cents. 



The great majority of the clams dug here, as northward, are made into bait, rather than sent 

 to market. There are a few boats, of small size (dories chiefly), which regularly come to Boston 

 during the colder half of the year with from forty to two hundred baskets of clams, which they 

 offer for sale at retail down on the wharves, lounging against the railing and smoking or whittling, 

 with a sample-basket at their feet, while waiting for a customer. Three or four oyster firms there 

 also deal in clams and other shell -fish. Estimating the combined sales of these merchants, afloat 

 and ashore, I conclude that the whole consumption of Boston and its shipping custom amounts to 

 about 60,000 bushels yearly, worth to the wholesaler about $50,000. Exports of clams to the 

 amount of $11,846 were made in 1879. 



NEWBURYPOKT TO GLOUCESTER. Beginning at Newburyport, Mass., the following statistks 

 of supply and incidents of the local fishery are available, for much of which I owe thanks to Mr. 

 W. A. Wilcox, United States Fish Commission, of Gloucester. At Newburyport clam digging is 

 followed when little else can be done by those who follow fishing. At these seasons of scarcity 

 the banks at the mouth of the Merrimac are resorted to by nearly four hundred men (half as many 

 can sometimes be seen at once), who dig up good wages, the amount dependent only upon their 

 industry, for the supply seems inexhaustible, and increasing rather than diminishing. In 1860 the 

 crop was valued at from $10,000 to $15,000 annually. In 1880 Mr. Wilcox reports thirty boats, 

 worth $750, and sixty men constantly and professionally engaged in clamming. Their product was 

 28,800 bushels, worth $11,520. 



The next center of clam digging is at Ipswich, where long ago its importance was recognized 

 by the settlers, and was legislated upon hi a precautionary way. 



In 1763 the Ipswich authorities forbade the digging of more clams than were needed for the 

 use of the people of the town and for fishing vessels, allowing one barrel for each of a crew to the 

 banks and in proportion for boats in the bay. In 1771 it was enacted that " owners of vessels are 

 to pay 6d. a barrel. The poor may dig and sell clams out of town for 2s. a barrel." In 1789 the 

 town voted to let the clam-flats and sand-banks at the rate of Is. a barrel for clams. At that time 

 1,000 barrels of clams were annually dug and sold in Boston and elsewhere for bait, counting five 

 hundred to six hundred a barrel of shelled clams. 



"At present," says Mr. Wilcox, " the clam digging or flats extend from Eowley southward 10 miles, 

 to Essex, with a width of half a mile. At Essex and elsewhere the clam beds have been plowed, 

 but the experiment was found unprofitable. The State law permits any fisherman to dig 2 bushels 

 for bait. The town law places the clam-flats in the hands of the selectmen, who give a license to 

 work on them only to citizens. All others working there are liable to arrest, a fine of $1 a bushel 

 for all clams dug, and confiscation of all tools. This law is strictly enforced. For the last ten 

 years no close season has been observed, and during this time the clams have steadily decreased 

 in abundance. To arrest this decadence a close season was proclaimed in 1880, no clams being 

 dug from May 15 to October 15 of each year, except for fishing-bait, as before mentioned. 

 Attempts at cultivation have failed hitherto. 



" During 1879, from March to June, seventy-five men were engaged in the business, and fifty 

 men from November until March. During 1879, 500 barrels were put up as bait, a very small 

 amount compared with the thousands of barrels recorded a few years ago. On the other hand, a 



