OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



63 



In regard to the quahaug fishery in Pleasant Bay, Mr. Warren J. 

 Niekerson of East Harwich, -who has been acquainted with the industry 

 f gr many years, says : — 



Pleasant Bay is and has been a very valuable quahaug ground. Some 

 fifty years ago there were shipped in vessels to New Haven and other places 

 13,000 bushels in one year from its waters. Since then there has been more 

 or less taken from these waters by fishermen from the towns of Orleans, 

 Chatham and Harwich. During the last few years there have been 25 regu- 

 lar fishermen and perhaps 12 transient. Probably 8,000 bushels a year for 

 the last five years would be a fair estimate of the catch. Thirty per cent. 

 of these were " little necks." 



Summary of Industry. 

 Area of quahaug territory (acres). 

 Number of men, . 

 Number of boats. 

 Value of boats,.. 

 Number of dories, 

 Value of dories, . 

 Value of implements, 



100 



7 



7 

 $100 

 $100 



Production. 



"Little necks": — 



Bushels, 700 



Value, $1,750 



Quahaugs: — 



Bushels, 800 



Value, $800 



Total : — 



Bushels, 1,500 



Value, $2,550 



Marion. 



The town of Marion, situated on the western side of Buzzards Bay, 

 possesses a spacious harbor, the waters of which furnish excellent qua- 

 haug grounds. 



This territory, comprising a total of 400 acres, is chiefly confined to 

 Marion harbor, running in a narrow strip parallel to the shore from 

 Aucoot Cove all along the coast to Planting Island. Almost all the 

 head of the harbor and all of Blankinship's and Planting Island Cove 

 is quahaug area. Small grounds are also found at Wing's Cove and 

 in the Weweantit River. 



The town law requires each year the possession of a permit costing 

 $1 before a person is entitled to dig quahaugs for sale. Nineteen of 

 these licenses were issued in 1906, but not more than 2 or 3 of these 

 went to men who depend upon quahauging for a living. The re- 

 maining 16 engage in the fishery to a greater or lesser extent in the 

 summer season. 



