Part 28

(2) _Katama Bay._--The best clam flats of the town are situated in Katama Bay, and extend over a considerable territory. These flats, consisting of a coarse, sandy soil, lie continually submerged. Here the clams are dug by means of a "sea horse." This "animal" is nothing more than an elongated clam hoe with a belt attachment, whereby the clammer can "churn" out the clams at a depth of 2 to 3 feet.

The clam industry of Edgartown has fallen off considerably since 1879. However, the clammers say that it has improved during the last fifteen years. The following comparison is made between the production of 1879 and 1907:--

COMPARISON OF 1907 WITH 1879.

=========+============+============+============+============= YEAR. | Production | Production | Production | Value of | for Food | for Bait | (Bushels). | Production. | (Bushels). | (Bushels). | | ---------+------------+------------+------------+------------- 1879, | 1,000 | 3,000 | 4,000 | $1,570 1907, | 625 | 575 | 1,200 | 1,000 =========+============+============+============+=============

The general shellfish regulations which govern the other shellfisheries of the town apply to the clam fishery; but the industry has never been considered important enough to need special legislation, and but slight attention has been given to it.

SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY.

Number of men, 7 Capital invested, $50 Production, 1907:-- Bushels, 1,200 Value, $1,000 Total area (acres):-- Sand, 150 Mud, - Gravel, 50 Mussels and eel grass, - Total, 200 Productive area (acres):-- Good clamming, 20 Scattering clams, 100 Barren area possibly productive (acres), 50 Waste barren area (acres), 30 Possible normal production, $33,000

In the opinion of many, doubtless, this report may appear unduly lengthy, and to include many seemingly trivial facts and unnecessary repetitions. To the trained observer, however, it seems of the greatest importance in dealing with such a practical and important problem to place on record all facts and opinions which may become of value, and to emphasize by frequent repetitions certain fundamental facts.

Respectfully submitted,

D. L. BELDING.

The preceding report is intended to be a reliable statement of facts, and suggestions for consideration. On such a basis of facts the future policy of developing the shellfisheries must be based. It is the purpose of the Commissioners on Fisheries and Game to hold a series of public hearings in the different sections of the State for the purpose of giving personal expositions of the shellfish conditions and possibilities, and of giving a better opportunity for exchanging, discussing and weighing opinions. Meantime, in considering the conditions of the shellfisheries of Massachusetts, and the laws necessary to improve these conditions, the following points are of importance.

The present shellfish laws are based upon the principle of "public" fisheries, and were made at times and at places where there was such a superabundance that the natural increase was sufficient to meet the market demands. Artificial cultivation was unnecessary. The fundamental laws were made in the colonial days. Since then the demand for shellfish as food has enormously increased, and for many years the annual natural increase has been entirely inadequate to meet these demands. We have outgrown the conditions which the original conception of that law covered. Under parallel conditions it has been found necessary to sell or lease the public lands, in order that the yield of food may be increased by cultivation under the immediate direction and responsibility of individual citizens, and under protection of State and national laws. When it was learned that the yield of a cultivated oyster bed far exceeded the natural product both in quantity and quality, the oyster laws were so modified that an important industry was built up, until to-day practically the entire oyster yield of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut is from cultivated beds, and the total product is many times the total catch from the natural beds in their palmiest days. To-day not only is it necessary to so modify the oyster laws as to increase the opportunities for better utilizing our bays and estuaries for oyster growing on a more extensive scale than is done at present, but also for developing similar methods of growing clams and quahaugs, and perhaps also scallops. The tidal flats must, as well as the deeper waters, be made to produce food and money by securing a larger yield per acre, and by the utilization of thousands of acres which are now practically idle, but which either are now adapted for growing shellfish or can readily be made so.

Our present shellfish laws are a heterogeneous, conflicting patchwork, devised to meet temporary and local conditions, utterly inadequate to-day to permit the fishermen to secure a just return for their labor, and completely sacrificing the public interests. In many cases the responsible tax-paying citizen cannot find a place to dig a family supply of clams or quahaugs, neither can the industrious native fisherman get a fair day's pay for his labor.

An entirely new code of shellfish laws is necessary, based upon the general principles (1) that in selling the shores the State reserved the right of fishing as "far as the tide doth ebb and flow," and (2) that the State may now lease these fishing rights under such conditions and restrictions as to secure to every citizen so desiring and so deserving an opportunity to cultivate such a definite area as may meet his needs and powers. Experience has proved conclusively that it is a correct economic principle for the State to give a secure title to certain carefully defined lands to a capable man, and to say: "This land is yours. You may raise potatoes, corn, hay or anything you choose. Every plant, fruit or tree growing on this property is yours. You have become responsible for its right and proper use. You have full and complete rights in this property, and can develop it by investing your labor and your money according to your own judgment, and the State will protect you in these rights as long as you do not interfere with the rights of other persons." Equally so it is an indubitable economic fact that the landowner finds it more profitable to plant or transplant corn, potatoes, grass, strawberries, etc., rather than to depend upon the natural methods and yield. Similarly, it is equally logical for the State to give to the fisherman equal opportunities with the farmer. The State should guarantee the tenure of the fisherman in his definitely bounded shellfish garden, and should protect his interests and the property on that garden as securely as if it were potatoes or corn, and should, so far as possible, guard him from local jealousy or the effects of petty politics so long as he continues wisely to improve his grant in conformity to the spirit and letter of laws which are found by experience to give the greatest good to the greatest number.

Further, the State should protect the fishermen and the consumers of shellfish by defining the areas which from a sanitary point of view are (1) totally unsuitable for shellfish cultivation; (2) those where shellfish may be grown but not eaten; and, finally, (3) definite areas from which alone shellfish may be sold for food. Provide suitable penalties for sale of shellfish which have not been kept for the required time (at least thirty days) in sanitary surroundings before going to market. The entire question of pollution of streams and estuaries must be carefully considered in view of the public rights and of the commercial interests of the fishermen. Further, the laws must be so carefully drawn that the respective rights and interests of individual fishermen, shore owners, summer cottagers and the transient public at the seashore are completely safeguarded against the dangers of predatory wealth monopolizing the opportunities for cultivating shellfish in the waters and the tidal flats.

The situation is extremely complicated on account of the diverse conditions and the numerous conflicting interests, oystermen, quahaugers, clammers and scallopers, native and alien fishermen, owners of shore property, town and State rights, local interests and petty politics, and careful judicial consideration is necessary not alone as to the substance of the necessary laws, but upon the methods of administering these laws.

Respectfully submitted,

G. W. FIELD. J. W. DELANO. G. H. GARFIELD.

FOOTNOTES:

[17] Licenses.

[18] Licences for bait.

[19] Licenses.

[20] Statistics of the number of men engaged were unobtainable.

INDEX.

INDEX.

Barnstable:-- Clam industry, 207-209 Oyster industry, 147-149 Quahaug industry, 52, 53 Scallop industry, 96-98

Berkley:-- Clam industry, 229, 230 Oyster industry, 156-158

Beverly, clam industry, 192

Boston harbor, clam industry, 196-198

Bourne:-- Clam industry, 220 Oyster industry, 153, 154 Quahaug industry, 53, 54 Scallop industry, 98, 99

Brewster, scallop industry, 99

Buzzard's Bay district:-- Clam industry, 219 Oyster industry, 150-152

Capital, 36

Chatham:-- Clam industry, 215, 216 Oyster industry, 144-146 Quahaug industry, 55, 56 Scallop industry, 99-101

Clam:-- Decline, 165, 166 Distribution, 159 Farming, 167-176 Growth, 171-173 History in Massachusetts, 176-178 Industry in Massachusetts, 178-180 Production for Massachusetts since 1880, 178 Remedy for decline, 167 Seed, 174 Statistics of industry in Massachusetts, 161-164

Cohasset, clam industry, 200

Dartmouth:-- Clam industry, 224, 225 Quahaug industry, 56 Scallop industry, 103

Dennis:-- Clam industry, 217, 218 Oyster industry, 146, 147 Quahaug industry, 56 Scallop industry, 101-103

Dighton:-- Clam industry, 229 Oyster industry, 156-158 Duxbury, clam industry, 202-204

Eastham:-- Clam industry, 211, 212 Oyster industry, 144 Quahaug industry, 56,57 Scallop industry, 103

Edgartown:-- Clam industry, 232, 233 Quahaug industry, 58-60 Scallop industry, 103-105

Essex, clam industry, 188-190

Fairhaven:-- Clam industry, 223 Quahaug industry, 60, 61 Scallop industry, 105, 106

Fall River, clam industry, 231

Fall River district:-- Clam industry, 225-227 Oyster industry, 156-158 Scallop industry, 106

Falmouth:-- Clam industry, 219, 220 Oyster industry, 149, 150 Quahaug industry, 61, 62 Scallop industry, 106

Fishing rights of the public, 26

Food value of shellfish, 92

Freetown:-- Clam industry, 230 Oyster industry, 156-158

Gloucester, clam industry, 190, 191

Harwich:-- Clam industry, 217 Oyster industry, 146 Quahaug industry, 62, 63 Scallop industry, 106, 107

Hingham, clam industry, 199

Hull, clam industry, 199, 200

Ipswich, clam industry, 185-188

Kingston, clam industry, 205, 206

Laws:-- Oyster, 127-132 Quahaug, 50, 51 Scallop, 92, 93 Shellfish, 25-30

Lynn, clam industry, 193, 194

Manchester, clam industry, 191, 192

Marion:-- Clam industry, 221, 222 Oyster industry, 156 Quahaug industry, 63, 64 Scallop industry, 107, 108

Marshfield, clam industry, 201, 202

Mashpee:-- Clam industry, 218 Oyster industry, 149 Quahaug industry, 64, 65 Scallop industry, 108

Mattapoisett:-- Clam industry, 222 Quahaug industry, 65, 66 Scallop industry, 108, 109

Methods of work, 16 Clam, 160, 161 Oyster, 117, 118 Quahaug, 38 Scallop, 81

Monopoly, 36

Nahant, clam industry, 195, 196

Nantucket:-- Clam industry, 231, 232 Oyster industry, 158, 159 Quahaug industry, 66-69 Scallop industry, 109-111

Narragansett Bay:-- Clam industry, 225-227 Oyster industry, 156-158

New Bedford:-- Clam industry, 223, 224 Quahaug industry, 69, 70 Scallop industry, 111-113

Newbury, clam industry, 184, 185

Newburyport, clam industry, 182, 183

Orleans:-- Clam industry, 210, 211 Oyster industry, 144 Quahaug industry, 70-72 Scallop industry, 113

Overfishing, 23

Oyster:-- Enemies, 155 Grants, 119 Natural beds, 119-123 Statistics, 136-138 Spat collecting, 133, 134

Oystermen v. quahaugers, 152

Plymouth, clam industry, 206, 207

Pollution, water, 23-25, 236

Protection, 26, 27

Provincetown:-- Clam industry, 214, 215 Quahaug industry, 72 Scallop industry, 113

Quahaug:-- Decline, 38-40 Distribution, 36, 37 Farming, 40-43 Growth, 42 History in Massachusetts, 49, 50 Industry, 43-49 Rakes, 44, 45 Spat collecting, 43 Statistics, 51

Quahaugers v. oystermen, 152

Resources, unimproved, 19

Salem, clam industry, 193

Salisbury, clam industry, 180-182

Sanitary conditions, 236

Saugus, clam industry, 194, 195

Scallop:-- Decline, 82-84 Distribution, 80 Dredges, 86-88 "Eye," 88 History in Massachusetts, 93, 94 Improvements, 84 Industry, 85-91 Maine, 90 Market, 90 Openers, 88 Outfit, 90, 91 "Pusher," 85 Season, 91 Shanties, 88 Soaking, 89, 90 Statistics, 95

Scituate, clam industry, 201

Sectional jealousy, 31

Shellfisheries:-- Abuses, 25-33 Decline, 20-25 Development, 19 Production since 1879, 20 Remedy, 33-35 Statistics, 19

Somerset:-- Clam industry, 228, 229 Oyster industry, 156-158

Statistical summaries:-- Clam industry, 161-164 Oyster industry, 136-138 Quahaug industry, 51 Scallop industry, 95 Shellfish industry, 19

Swansea:-- Clam industry, 227, 228 Oyster industry, 156-158 Quahaug industry, 72

Tisbury, scallop industry, 113

Town jealousy, 31

Truro:-- Clam industry, 213, 214 Quahaug industry, 72

Wareham:-- Clam industry, 221 Oyster industry, 154-156 Quahaug industry, 72-74 Scallop industry, 114, 115

Waste of competition, 31

Wastefulness, historical, 17-19

Wellfleet:-- Clam industry, 212, 213 Oyster industry, 138-143 Quahaug industry, 74-79 Scallop industry, 115

Weymouth, clam industry, 198

Yarmouth:-- Clam industry, 209, 210 Oyster industry, 146, 147 Quahaug industry, 79, 80 Scallop industry, 115, 116