of the south shore of Long Island, but some bays of the north shore, which 

 had not been closed by pollution, also produce hard clams. The 3 most 

 important areas, in descending order of production, were: Great South Bay 

 (western portion more productive than eastern) , Port Jefferson to Cold Spring 

 Harbor along the north shore of L.I., and Greenport to Peconic Bay at the 

 eastern end. Tongs and rakes were the most important gears. Dredges are 

 allowed only on private grounds. The fishery was in excellent condition, and 

 except for some problems with duck farm pollution, the industry was relatively 

 free of problems. Until about 15 years ago (e.g., about mid-1930s) Shinnecock 

 and Great South Bays were the most consistent producing areas, but since then 

 clams have been found in nearly every bay and cove on L.I. It is believed in 

 the industry that opening of the intracoastal waterway in 1930-31, by 

 increasing salinity, improved the environment for hard clams. Disappearance 

 of eel grass, which began in 1931, also was believed to favor the hard clam 

 resource by improving water circulation. Setting was not regular, but 

 frequent enough to maintain the supply of clams. Heavy sets were reported on 

 both shores of L.I. in 1941. The industry was more concerned about water 

 pollution than overharvesting. Pollution from duck farms was a growing 

 problem, although the effect on the hard clam resource was believed to be 

 minor. Results of scientific studies conducted in 1949 were not yet 

 available. Marketing was not a problem. Most clams were shipped to 

 New York City, but shipments to places as distant as Md. and Ohio were 

 reported. New York ranks first among the states in hard clam production, 

 and it was concluded that the resource was in no immediate danger of 

 overexploitation. Hard clams are taken along almost the entire coast of N.J. 

 Best areas are Little Egg Harbor and Great Bay. The most important gears are 

 tongs and rakes. Dredging is allowed on private grounds, or with sailing 

 vessels on public grounds. Some people in the industry were concerned about 

 overharvesting and setting failures, but others were optimistic, believing 

 that recent declines in production were temporary. Demand is so great for 

 small clams, especially in late summer, that quantities of undersize clams 

 are taken illegally. Principal markets are N.Y., Pa., and Ohio. Many dealers 

 maintain leased beds on which they store clams bought at low prices, to hold 

 until markets improve. Except near Atlantic City and Wildwood water pollution 

 was not a problem. It was concluded that the resource was in good condition 

 and overharvesting unlikely. Delaware had few clam beds, and production was 

 insignificant. Dredges are the only gear used in the Delaware Bay industry. 

 In the sheltered waters of Rehoboth Bay and Indian River were small tonging 

 fisheries. The dredge fishery began as a sideline of the oyster industry, 

 but good markets for clams led to a directed clam fishery in the summers of 

 1949 and 1950. The catch is mostly large clams, which are canned. Clam 

 production had been increasing in Delaware Bay, but the protected coastal bays 

 were not as productive of hard clams as Chincoteague Bay to the south. The 

 resource in Delaware was almost fully exploited, there were no marketing 

 problems, and no evidence of overfishing. Pollution was not a serious problem. 

 In Md. Pocomoke Sound in Chesapeake Bay produces small quantities of hard clams, 

 but most production in the State comes from protected bays on the ocean side. 

 These bays are very shallow, with soft sandy mud. Tongs and rakes are the 

 important gears. A few hard clams are taken in the oyster dredge fishery. 

 Total catches were trending upward but the resource was judged to be in good 

 condition except in Pocomoke Sound, where some formerly productive grounds had 

 been virtually denuded. Marketing is the major industry problem. In cold 

 winters, when harvesting farther north is restricted by ice, some dealers have 

 imported clams from N.Y. , N.J., R.I.,and N.C. to hold on their beds for higher 

 prices. In recent warm winters, this practice proved risky, and some dealers 

 abandoned it. The market is almost entirely out-of-State. Regular markets 

 were in N.Y. , Pa., Ohio, Fla., and Tex. Peaks of demand are late summer (for 

 clambakes) and winter for large chowder clams. Two firms in Md. were 

 producing canned chowder and another was freezing clams. Despite marketing 

 problems the industry had been growing steadily. In Va. the industry also is 

 centered along the seaside of the eastern shore, but hard clams also are taken 

 in the lower parts of Chesapeake Bay. The broad shallow flats on the western 

 side of the Bay where salinities are high enough are also quite productive, 

 and make excellent holding grounds. Tongs and rakes are the most important 

 gears. In some areas patent tongs are used. Catches in dredges are incidental 

 to private oyster harvesting. Recent catches were less than formerly, but the 

 problem apparently was not overharvesting, but overproduction and marketing. 



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