The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-02
THE CLAM TRADE OF NEW YORK.

The CLAM TRADE OF NEW YORK.
~~>~~>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Truo History OF the Hard and Soft Shells.
The wholesale and retail trade in CLAIMS Is estimat
ed at about six hundred thousand dollars year.
There many persons who profess utter disgust
and repugnance to both kinds hard and soft shells;
but presume when they look at the Importance Of
the business they will feel inclined to bestow little
consideration on it before condemning it altogether
The number of boats employed in carrying the fish
TO Oliver slip and the docks at the foot of Washing
ton market about one hundred and there are nearly
eight thousand men engaged in the various branches
Of the business, from those who procure them on
our coasts to the retail dealers who hawk them about
the streets in wagons Besides the large boats there
about two thousand Others each of which is gen.
orally manned by two The total value of these
is estimated at fifty thousand dollars, which is one
half the amount invested in the larger craft. During
portion Of the year. particularly in the winter sea-
son. when the extreme cold causes partial suspen-
sion Of the business, they engaged in carrying
oysters to the markets of the city In addition
TO those we have enumerated, there are about
twenty Others which employed in the North river
clam trade These supply the various towns between
sumed in Albany. A considerable quantity Of hard
shells are packed up in barrels and sent by steam.
boats and railroad the western parts Of this State
The trade is constantly increasing in importance,
and at present there is than double the amount
Of capital invested in it that there was thirty years
ago. The fish itself is very nutritious, and by some
IT is considered healthy and paatable than
the oyster CLAIMS used by persons in every con-
Of md oil ~
manner. 1t Is seldom that they are eaten raw, al
though some persons prefer them in that state to be-
ing cooked. We heard an old clam dealer recon-
mend dozen Of them every morning before break
FAST as certain cure for the most obstinate case of
dy THsp al;no,n., ,,..,o., Co., =. , , -
Catherine, Washington and Fulton, but we believe
there are more sold in the latter than in either of the
others. There are also more retail dealers in it, aud
besides what is disposed OF by these, on immense
quantity is sold of the wagons which arrive every
morning from different parts of Long Island. All
the oyster dealers have them for sale, but believe
there are no dealers occupying permanent stands
who sell them exclusively More than onehalf OF the
whole amount received in New York is purchased
from market men, the remainder being bought off the
boats by the retail dealers throughout the city, The
boats have no regular dock set apart for their ex
elusive use and are therefore put to considerable in
convenience and loss. In this respect they are as
much neglected by the Corporation the oystermen.
They are compelled Of course, to pay dock fees but
sometimes it is impossible for them to get iu to dis
charge Gfle large vessels allowed
the precedence, and not unfrequenty occupy the
greater part of the dock. Would it not be well for
the city authorities to take this matter into consider
alton, and appropriate one or two docks on either
river for the exclusive use of both clam and oyster
boats? Until those who to be benefited by it,
however, make some move, they can hardly expect
the Common Council to give it their attention. They
must present petition, signed by all who are inte
rested in the subject, through the aldermen of the
wards in which the docks are situated.
THE CLAM FISHERIES.
There is hardly portion Of our sea coast that does
not abound in clans, but the principal fisheries are
along the shore OF Atlantic county, in New Jersey.
New Inlet, Absecombe, and Egg Harbor furnish the
best but not the largest, supply. There also
tensve fisheries at Rockaway, Shincock Patchogue,
and Fire Island, on the southern coast of Long
Island, and at Cow Bay and Little Neck Bay on
the Sound. Some are also obtained from Virginia,
but the amount is inconsiderable. Except on those
parts of the coast which are called fats and which
are generally dry at low water boats are invariably
used in clam fishing and the process Of taking them
does not differ materially from the manner in which
oysters are obtained A dredge, however, is never
employed the only instrument used being scraper
and tongs. The latter is of the same shape as the
common oyster toDgs differing from it only in the
width of the head which averages three feet and q
half. The scraper is formidable looking instru-
ment, and is furnished with large number Of semi
circular teeth, each Of which is as thick as
a mans little finger and about six inches long.
1t is thrown over the side Of the boat, and when
it has sunk into the sand to the required depth
it is drawn along the bottom, and taken up
about once every minute, when the clans
into the boat. This is exceedingly laborious work.
and four or five hours of it in one day is sufficient
TO use up the stoutest scraper. longing clans is
even more laborious and ,strainng upon the arms
fhonp mir Init hnli ID mot aro1lu
pursued. CLANS are very seldom found in fresh wa
ter which is not favorable to their growth as tits
to oysters. Those obtained from Fire Island where
the ifated ship Elizabeth was wrecked about three
years ago. said by epcures to be among the best
sold in our markets, and command high price in
comparison with those procured from other parts
There are some portions of our coast on which they
have almost become extinct from the TOO frequent
visits of the boatmen and diggers; but there are
other parts where they prolific that the supply
never appears to diminish no matter how heavily
coast, called the Range, may be cited as parti-
cular proof Of this statement. It is favorite loca
ty with the clam diggers and boatmen, on this
count, for it rewards their labor more generously
than any other "diggin'.
DIGGING CLANS.
great deal Of experience and hard labor arc requi
site to achieve success in the art of digging clans,
for it is an art and like all others must be learned
The southern shores of Long Island are inhabited
principally by persons who make this their chiefbu
sncss Nearly every member of each family is
clam digger and it is not unusual to see children of
both sexes and not more than eight years Of age,
working beside their parents. CLANS do not lie upon
the sand in rocks or BEDS like oysters but are found
beneath the surface, sometimes deep two feet.
These are the soft Shells but the hard shells are very
seldom found than two three inches below it,
and some are found lying within an inch Of it. A
rake, similar to that used in gardens, is the Princi
pal instrument employed in taking them, and some
times spades or shoves are used. The exact locality