New York State Museum 



CLAM AND SCALLOP INDUSTRIES OF 



NEW YORK STATE 



DEPLETION AND RESTORATION OF SUPPLY 



The comparisons so frequently made btween the social condi- 

 tions and habits of European peoples and our own, for many reasons 

 are worthy of careful consideration. In Europe the ignorance of 

 the masses in most regions is greater than in America. The greater 

 part of the population is poor. Intercommunication amounts to 

 almost nothing, and the simple needs and desires of a people remain 

 what they have been for many decades. 



In America everything is different. The aggressive methods of 

 commercial enterprises, the form of government by the people, the 

 migration into new territory, and popular excursions and exposi- 

 tions, have tempted even the most humble to more or less extended 

 travel. The idea of a diversified life has become national. A knowl- 

 edge of the social habits of one community has added to the desires 

 of another. The entire country has become the most homogeneous 

 of the nations of the earth, though made of the most diversified 

 units. One portion has stimulated another till the whole has ad- 

 vanced rapidly. The art of living better has been practised by all, 

 and the high-priced luxuries of yesterday have steadily become the 

 low-priced necessities of today. The demand for a rare commodity 

 increases its production, lowers its price, and again enlarges its de- 

 mand till a certain balance of supply and demand has been reached, 

 which usually brings, it within the means of all. 



There have been some cases, however, in which the demand has 

 been met with such reckless indifference to future supply, that 

 established industries have been threatened with destruction. In no 



