INSHORE FISHERIES 



245 



Island was 53,960 bushels, valued at $48,564. They were 

 sent chiefly to New York. The total product of Connecticut 

 was about 75,000 bushels each year, worth $58,000. 



The early productiveness of the quahog at Cape Cod 

 is shown by the presence of numerous shell-mounds, built 

 up by the Indians and consisting almost entirely of the 

 shells of the quahog. As a business, the quahog fishery 

 dates from the beginning of the last century. "It grew 

 in extent until 1863, and from that time until 1868, the 

 tide was at its highest, since when it has diminished year 

 by year, owing to the lack of good market rather than 

 failure of the supply. Between 1863 and 1869, the average 

 catch each year was not less than 2,500 bushels. Of this 

 amount a comparatively small part was consumed at Well- 

 fleet, and the rest was shipped to Boston, Providence, 

 Salem, Newport, Manchester, and a few other New Eng- 

 land ports. From 1870 to 1876, the quantity of quahog 

 taken per year decreased from 2,500 bushels to 1,800 

 bushels." 1 



The comparative statistics of the New England soft clam 

 yield show a steady condition of the fishery. During 

 twenty-five years this fishery has been subject to less 

 fluctuation in supply and value than any other. The trend 

 of the fishery is exhibited in the following table : 



Fisheries of the New England States for 1902 and 1905. 



