CLAM AND SCALLOP INDUSTRIES 615 



obtain from 50 cents to $1.50 a day for their labor. Practically no 

 clams are allowed to grow to a size suitable for market, so closely 

 are they sought by the diggers. The ruin of the great Duxbury 

 flats is just as complete. These lessons should certainly be heeded 

 by those who still possess productive clam flats. 



Passing to the north side of the island, there are several arms of 

 the sound, at its western end — Cow bay, Hempstead harbor. Oyster 

 bay, Huntington bay and Smithtown bay — in which the history of 

 the clam industry is very much the same. Several years ago, these 

 extensive shores bore the soft clam in great numbers. The history 

 of the New England coast has been repeated here. There was for 

 many years a gradual diminution in the number of clams. During 

 the past two years, the falling of¥ in the supply has been very great, 

 and the beaches are now becoming practically barren. No other 

 part of the coast of Long Island seems to be in a more dangerously 

 depleted condition. As in all similar cases, this is certainly not due 

 to a change in the nature of the bottoms or of the waters of these 

 bays, but has resulted solely from excessive digging. A close sea- 

 son extending through the summer months, is in operation, but it 

 seems to have had little influence in checking the decrease. 



To the east of Smithtown bay, the shore is bold and little broken 

 by inlets, and here neither the soft nor the hard clam has ever been 

 abundant. 



From this hurried examination of the shores of Long Island, it 

 appears that many extensive areas offer extraordinarily good natural 

 conditions for the growth of M y a, the soft clam. The supply, 

 also, is now much greater than on the New England coast except 

 in Maine. This is fortunate; for, if immediate steps are taken to 

 prevent it, the destruction of the industry may be averted, and the 

 supply increased at a time when the demand is rapidly growing and 

 prices are rising. The regions which, under these circumstances, 

 first introduce culture methods are to derive great benefit from the 

 enterprise, and, having obtained the market by means of this ad- 

 vantage, should for some time be able to hold it. This fact is 

 recognized by one New England state, which has made appropria- 

 tions that are available for a practical inquiry into the possibilities 

 of clam culture. 



