OF MASSACHUSETTS. 171 



leases were made when the first ones expired. No change in the condition 

 at Essex may be hoped for until there is some evidence that a law pro- 

 tecting the planter will be strictly enforced. With proper protection, a 

 great industry might, and probably would, be quickly established, not 

 only in Essex, but in any region where clam flats are now unproductive 

 because of excessive digging. 



Protection Necessary. — The same lack of protection which ruined 

 the Essex clam experiments has been the cause of similar failures in 

 other shore towns. As long as no protection is given, clam farming can 

 never become possible, as the whole success of the enterprise depends 

 wholly upon the planter's having complete control of his land. The 

 present law gives absolutely no protection, as according to the old free 

 beach law a person has a right to dig a mess of clams anywhere 

 between the tide lines, no matter whether natural or planted. This 

 practically discourages clam farming, however profitable, as no clammer 

 is going to the labor and expense of planting clams, if the next person 

 who comes along has a legal right to dig as many as he pleases. Until 

 a law is passed which gives to the clam planter absolute protection from 

 this sort of trespassing, and does away with the antiquated free fishing 

 law, clam culture can never become a successful industry. 



Present Clam Culture. — In 1906 grants of barren flats were again 

 issued for the purpose of clam culture in Essex, and this time the 

 attempt seemed successful. Two things encouraged this : the excellent 

 results of the experiments in Essex River by the Commission on Fish- 

 eries and Game, and the possible results indicated by the experiments of 

 1888. The only protection for these clam grants is by public sentiment, 

 and the mutual agreement of all the clammers to respect the rights of the 

 individual. So far there has been no trouble from trespassing and the 

 lack of protection, which caused the failure of first attempts. It is 

 hoped that these clam farms will become permanently successful, despite 

 the lack of protection, as they will greatly increase the production of 

 the Essex clam flats. 



Clam Farming and Agriculture. — The comparison between clam 

 farming and agriculture is very close, and both possess many common 

 features, though there are several points of difference. The clam obtains 

 its sustenance entirely from the water, while agricultural products 

 obtain their nourishment chiefly from the soU. The nitrogenous waste 

 products of the land washed into the streams furnish the nourishment 

 to the little marine plants (diatoms) on which the clams feed. 



Rate of Growth of the Clam. — The report of the Commission on 

 Fisheries and Game for the year 1906 contains the following state- 

 ments : — » 



What is the natural growth of the clam per year? 



There is great diversity in the growth of the clam, owing to the location 

 in respect to three essential conditions, — current, length of time submerged, 

 and soil. The following figures give briefly the general trend of results 



