A Report upon the Mollusk Fisheries of MassachusettsMassachusetts. Commissioners on Fisheries and Game
Science
A Report upon the Mollusk Fisheries of Massachusetts
Massachusetts. Commissioners on Fisheries and Game
Shellfish fisheries -- Massachusetts
(5) _Advantage of Quahaug Culture._--The quahaug is the most
remunerative of any of our shellfish. It possesses several advantages
over the oyster: (1) it is hardier,--less influenced by climatic
conditions; (2) it has fewer enemies, as it lies protected under the
sand; (3) it possesses a market the whole year; (4) there is more money
for the planter in raising "little necks" than in raising oysters. If
oyster culture has succeeded in Massachusetts, there is no question
that, given a proper chance, quahaug culture can be put on a firm
basis, and made the leading shellfish industry of Massachusetts. The
value of the present quahaug industry lies chiefly in the production of
"little necks." Under a cultural system of quahaug farms, this could be
made a specialty. Old quahaugs would be kept as "seeders," and "little
necks" alone raised for the market. The advantage of furnishing "little
necks" of uniform size would lead to increased prices; steady customers
would be obtained and certainty of production guaranteed. All the
advantages lie with quahaug farming, as opposed to the present method
of "free-for-all" digging.
The quahaug industry of the future, if put on a cultural basis, will
not only check the decline of a valuable industry, but will increase
the present production many fold. A far larger supply, work for more
men and better prices for the consumer will result.
(6) _Spat Collecting._--The main obstacle that stands in the way
of permanent quahaug culture is a lack of sufficient young "seed"
quahaugs. While several heavy sets have been recorded, the "seed"
quahaugs are never found in vast quantities, as are the young of the
soft clam (_Mya arenaria_). The set of quahaugs is usually scattering
and slight. A method of spat collecting, _i.e._, catching the spawn and
raising the small quahaugs, is alone necessary for the complete success
of quahaug culture. While nothing of practical importance has yet been
found, indications are favorable that some means will be devised in the
next few years, and that quantities of young quahaugs can be raised.
Experiments have already shown that as many as 75 can be caught per
square foot in box spat collectors; but a more practical method than
this must be found to make the business profitable.
_The Quahaug Industry._
_Methods of Capture._--Several methods of taking quahaugs are in vogue
in Massachusetts, some simple and primitive, others more advanced and
complex, but all modifications of simple raking or digging. These
methods have arisen with the development of the industry, and record
the historical changes in the quahaug fishery, as each new fishery or
separate locality demands some modification of the usual methods.
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