'6l2 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



It will be noticed that, with two exceptions, we have in these 

 tables no reference to sales during the last eight years. No serious 

 .attempt has been made to collect data showing market sales in New 

 .York, for, as explained, such a record does not show conclusively 

 the productive capabilities of the beds. The only way to obtain a 

 knowledge of this is by visiting the clam flats and beaches. Since 

 the summer of 1898, a large part of the shore from the state of 

 New Hampshire to the city of Brooklyn has been personally ex- 

 plored, and while Maine, for clearly understood reasons, has in- 

 creased her market supply — not her resources — at almost every 

 other point on the coast, the soft clam industry has been practically 

 ruined. 



Soft clam supply in New York 



The industry in this state has been extensive. It became apparent 

 that the supply of hard and soft clams, and of scallops, was decreas- 

 ing, and at the invitation of Dr F. J. H. Merrill, director of the New 

 York state museum, a personal inspection of the entire coast of 

 Long Island was attempted during the month of September in the 

 present year (1900), with the view of determining the present con- 

 dition of the beds. Though it was necessary that this examination 

 should be a hurried one, its results show conclusively that, except 

 in one or two localities, the accomplished depletion of the New 

 England coast is being repeated here. 



A reference to the appended map of Long Island will show at 

 its eastern end very extensive bodies of water in Peconic and 

 Gardiners bays. The surrounding shores of both seem to be wonder- 

 fully adapted to the growth of the soft clam. According to the re- 

 ports of clam-diggers in that region, even so far inland as at River- 

 head, thousands of bushels dug at the west end of Peconic bay are 

 marketed there every winter. It is maintained that recently there 

 has been a noticeable diminution in the supply, but that it has not 

 as yet become alarming. The shores of Shelter island, except on 

 its northern side, have produced many clams. The supply here 

 also is said to be falling off rapidly. 



Shelter island, like the greater part of Long Island, supports an 

 increasing summer population, which is already very large. In 



