CLAM AND SCALLOP INDUSTRIES 609 



For many hundreds of miles along the north Atlantic coast, it 

 lias always been possible to find our common long-neck, or soft 

 clam. It, has long been used extensively in the market, and has 

 been dug for so long a time that the supply was apparently limit- 

 less. 10 years ago it perhaps would have been impossible to find 

 anyone who believed that a time would ever come when this area 

 should become practically barren. Even at that time, clams were 

 not so abundant as formerly, but the area was great; clams could 

 be taken almost anywhere. They were not everywhere numerous, 

 but in some localities the supply seemed to be without limit. But 

 suddenly the unexpected happened. During the last three or four 

 years, the supply rapidly diminished, and the industry became 

 almost completely paralyzed, excepting in Maine and certain 

 parts of Long Island. Immense flats, long productive, now bear 

 practically nothing. The few remaining regions where clams are 

 dug of course are taxed to such an extent that they can not long 

 maintain themselves. The state of Maine has recently (1899) 

 recognized this fact, and has made the busy summer months (June 

 I to Sep. 15), a close season, in which clams may not be canned, 

 exported or sold. While the soft clam has disappeared from many 

 parts of Long Island, there are still two or three localities where 

 they are fairly abundant. These regions, however, not only are 

 called on to yield an increasing number, but they are confronted 

 by a new and peculiar problem in the relation of the clam and the 

 oyster interests which will be described presently. There can be 

 no question that this ruin of the clam industry on our Atlantic coast 

 has been accomplished by excessive digging without correspond- 

 ing efforts to increase the supply by culture methods. The falling 

 off has been noticed for more than 20 years, but the final disap- 

 pearance came suddenly. 



It must be remembered that the record of market sales does not 

 necessarily indicate the real abundance of the forms considered. A 

 greater demand means a greater production till the limit is reached. 

 An increasing demand, with its higher prices, means that more 

 men are collecting the supply, and with increased energy. It is 

 very evident, then, that the final exhaustion will come suddenly, and 



