40 
■ BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
quently much greater. We may thus understand why the calamity — for such it really 
is — has suddenly fallen. 
In certain localities, of course, this exhaustion of the clam beds took place many 
years ago, and it is interesting to notice that, for the reasons given above, they have 
ever since remained practically barren. The history of one of these regions demands 
especial attention, being particularly instructive at present, because a considerable 
effort has been made there to reclaim the barren hats. 
At the mouth of the Essex River, just north of Gloucester, Mass., are some very 
extensive hats, upon which immense numbers of clams were formerly found. Several 
years ago these hats were rendered practically unproductive through excessive digging, 
and have remained so until the present time. About ten years ago the only serious 
experiment at clam culture of which we have any record in this country was attempted 
here. It proved to be a failure, and yet the reasons for the failure are easily found, 
and the fact is demonstrated that the methods employed would have been entirely 
successful if the experimenters had been protected from outsiders and from each other. 
In the report of the United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries for 1891 
we find the following reference to the Essex experiment, quoted from Mr. Ansley Hall : 
I found quite an interesting feature in connection with the clam fisheries at Essex, Mass., in the 
shape of clam culture. In 1888 an act was passed hy the legislature authorizing the selectmen of the 
town to stake off, in lots of 1 acre or less, each of the flats along the Essex River, and let them to persons 
desiring to plant clams, for a rental of $2 per acre or lot for five years and an additional fee of 50 
cents. Thus far 371 acres have been taken up and seeded with clams. Small clams are dug on the 
natural heds and planted on these hitherto unproductive flats. Mr. J. Bennett Fuller states that 
about 500 bushels are required to plant an acre properly. During the first two years (1889 and 1890) 
the people were slow to avail themselves of the privilege of planting for fear that after they had 
spent their time and labor they would not he able to secure protection from trespassers. But in 1891 
and 1892 lots were obtained and planted. The principal difficulty encountered has been the loss of 
clams by the sand washing over them, the bottom in some localities being soft and shifting. In 1892 
there were 25 acres that were quite productive, about one-third of the entire catch of the section 
being obtained from them. The catch from these lots is not definitely known, but is estimated at 
about 2,500 barrels. 
The cultivated clams possess some advantage over the natural growth from the fact that they are 
more uniform in size and are as large as the best of the natural clams. They bring $1.75 per barrel, 
while the natural clams sell for $1.50 per barrel. This is the price received by the catchers. One acre 
of these clams is considered to be worth $1,000, if well seeded and favorably located so as not to bo in 
danger of being submerged with sand. This valuation would be too high for an average, since all the 
acres are not equally well seeded and located. The clammers are generally impressed that the indus- 
try can be extensively and profitably developed, and their only fear is that they will not be able to 
securelots permanently. The greater part of the land available for this purpose is covered hy the deeds 
of people owning farms along the river, and the consent of the land-owners has to be obtained before 
lots can be taken up. It seems probable, however, that the business will continue to progress unless 
checked by complications that may arise relative to the occupancy of the grounds. 
This report is in the main correct, but there are some points in which it seems to 
be in error. Perhaps its author in stating that the flats were previously unpro- 
ductive did not mean that they had always been so. The testimony of the older 
inhabitants is that at one time most of the flats, and the river banks back to the 
town of Essex, were covered with clams. 
Another statement is that many planted clams were lost by shifting sand. In 
one or two instances trouble of this kind occurred on some of the river clam banks, 
but it was very insignificant, considering the total area seeded. For the last two 
