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