216 



THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



flats at Monomoy Point. These were purchased at Chatham wharf by 

 fish firms at the price of $2 per barrel. 



The winter clam fishery of Chatham was once an important industry, 

 which started in 1875 when clams were in great demand as fish bait. 

 The following table shows how this industry has declined : — 



Owing to the large amount of clams dug by fishing vessels, the fol- 

 lowing restrictions were incorporated in 1881 as a State law, which 

 reads as follows : — ■ 



No fisherman or any other person shall take from the towns of Chatham 

 and Nantucket any shellflsh, for bait or other use, except clams and a shell- 

 fish commonly known by the name of horse feet, and no quantity exceeding 

 seven bushels of clams, including shells or one hundred of said horse feet 

 shall be taken in one week for each vessel or craft, nor in any case without 

 a permit being first obtained from the selectmen of the town. 



SuMMAET OP Industry. 



Number of men, .......... 10 



Capital invested, $400 



Production, 19*7 : — 



Bushels, 1,500 



Value, $1,200 



Total area (acres) : — 



Sand, 330 



Mud, 10 



Gravel, 20 



Mussels and eel grass, ........ - 



Total, 360 



Productive area (acres) : — 



Good clamming, 10 



Scattering clams, 50 



Barren area possibly productive (acres), 300 



Waste barren area (acres), 



Possible normal production, $44,000 



