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
The third form of basket rake is a cross between the basket and claw
rakes. This rake is used both at Nantucket and on Cape Cod, but is not
so popular as the other types. The basket is formed by the curve of
the prongs, which are held together by two long cross-bars at the top
and bottom of the basket, while the ends are enclosed by short strips
of iron. This rake exemplifies the transition stage between the claw
and basket types, indicating that the basket form was derived from the
former. Handles 20 to 30 feet long are generally used with these rakes.
_Shallow v. Deep Water Quahauging._--Two kinds of quahauging are found
in Massachusetts,--the deep and the shallow water fisheries. This
arbitrary distinction also permits a division of localities in regard
to the principal methods of fishing. Although in all localities there
exists more or less shallow-water fishing, the main quahaug industry of
several towns is the deep-water fishery. In all the Buzzards Bay towns
except Fairhaven and New Bedford the shallow-water fishery prevails;
this is also true of the south side of Cape Cod. On the north side
of Cape Cod the opposite is true, as the quahauging at Wellfleet,
Eastham, Orleans and Brewster is practically all deep-water fishing. At
Edgartown and Nantucket, although there is considerable shallow-water
digging, the deep-water fishery is the more important.
The deep-water fishery is vastly more productive than the shallow-water
industry, furnishing annually 118,500 bushels, compared to 23,227
bushels, or more than 5 times as much. The deep-water fishery, _i.e._,
the basket-rake fishery, is the main quahaug fishery of the State, and
each year it is increasing, because of the opening of new beds. On the
other hand, the shallow-water grounds are rapidly becoming barren from
overfishing.
The deep-water quahauging is harder work, requires considerable capital
but has fewer working days. Naturally the earnings from this fishery
should surpass those of the shallow-water industry. The deep-water
quahauger averages from $5 to $8 for a working day, while the
shallow-water fisherman earns only from $2 to $3 per day.
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