OF MASSACHUSETTS. 65 



There are 3 regular and 4 intermittent quahaugers, with an invested 

 capital of $70, who are obliged by the town laws to have a permit cost- 

 ing $1. The quahaug industry of the town has remained about the 

 same for the last twenty-flve years, and now a good quahauger can 

 scarcely average 1% to 2 bushels per day. 



Summary of Indtjstet. 



Area of quahaug territory (acres), 400 



Number of men, 7 



Number of boats, - 



Value of boats, - 



Number of skifEa, 5 



Value of skiffs, $50 



Value of implements, . . $20 



Production. 

 "Little necks": — 



Bushels, 25 



Value, $60 



Bushels, 225 



Value, $225 



Total: — 



Bushels, 250 



Value, $285 



♦ Mattapoisett. 



The town of Mattapoisett, situated to the west of Marion, receives 

 but little income from her shellflsheries, as the waters are for the most 

 part too open and exposed for shellfish culture. The quahaug fishery 

 is the most important shellfish industry of the town, but even this, 

 when compared with the quahaug fishery of other towns, is rather un- 

 important, as most of the suitable territory is nonproductive. 



Quahaugs are very unevenly distributed over 800 acres. The best 

 quahaugs are found in Aucoot Cove and at Brants. In the main harbor 

 quahaugs are found, though scattering, as indicated on the map. 



No licenses or permits are required of the 28 men and boys who add 

 to their income from time to time by quahauging. Most of these de- 

 pend on other sources of employment for their main support. The 

 industry as a whole is gradually declining, as overfishing has made it 

 impossible for the natural supply to perpetuate itself. 



Summary of Industry. 



Area of quahaug territory (acres), 750 



Number of men, 28 



Number of boats, - 



Value of boats, 



