The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-02

witn Keller IN Q boat claiming, said ne, where
%ys IT, are you ready = An ready; ssys /
"Well, now, you must peel, !" says he. What for"
says |. Why to dive for the clans, !, says he. He
was interrupted here by burst 1. OF Laughter, IN
siderng it good joke, whether they believed it or
not.
During the summer, both kinds of clans lie nearer
the surface than at any other season yea aud
they are also taken in greater abundance. The dig
gers wade in for them with their clothes on, and
thew take them up throw them into boat which
is generally anchored on the diggins" Egg Har-
Dor on the southern coast of New Jersey, is c0nsi
dered very productive in clans; and in parts of
it they grow in such abundance, that dozen are
often found within two three inches of each other
quick hand at the work can dig, or rake ap, as
many as two thousand in three or four hours. When
the day work is over the next process isthe sheng
The CLAIMS thoroughly washed beforeth are given
over to the knives Of the shelers, openers" as
they are sometimes called. As many as two dozen
shelters are at work at one time, among whom are
children, old PERSONS and in fact all who can handle
knife, or can be mustered into the service These
are seated round large tub into which the unshell
ed CLAIMS are thrown promiscu0usy, while the shells
are deposited in heap by themselves. The rapdity
with which they opened would astonsh stranger
to the business They are not opened with the point
Of the knife nor the front of the shell broken is
the case with OYSTERS but the clam itself is adjusted
to the edge OF the knife and forced open by striking
it upon The side of the tub other hard sub
stance Before they are taken to market large
quantities Of them are attached to strings, and sold
in this way off the carts. Our readers have doubt
less seen them carried through the streets by coored
persons, who are particularly partial to this kind Of
shell fish. Immense quantities Of strung clans are
sold every morning in Fulton market, by wholesale
and retail Over dozen wagons, loaded to repleton
with both soft shells and hard shells, arrive be-
tween five and seven O'Clock from different parts
of Long Island. These travel all night, start
supply. They come from distance of twenty or
thirty miles from New York. The greatest supply,
however, is received by boats, and in the shell,
they can be preserved much longer in that state.
In the summer season they will keep fresh for about
week, and it is very seldom that any are lost by
q falling Off in the demand. There is generally
good sale for them at any time of the year. for the
supply rarely, if ever, exceeds the consumption.
THE CLAM DEALERS.
There are at least three classes Of dealers who
make living by selling clans before they reach the
consumers. They are very numerous, perhaps ex-
ceeding three thousand, including those who own
the large boats and two classes of retail dealers.
The clam diggers, as general thing do not average
more than three dollars week during the whole
year, and there are two or three months in which
they are prevented from pursuing their occupation
by the severity Of the weather. When not en-
ploycd at this work they turn their attention to
oyster catching which is considered more profitable
They also devote a portion of their time to
agricultural pursuits, for there are very few
among them who are not possessed of small tracts
Of land. from one to five acres. Those who own
large boats occasionally engage in clam catching,
but they generally find it more profitable to
purchase their clans from those who make it
their chief occupation. Some of them have their
regular customers, to whom they are bound by con-
tract to furnish certain amount at specified periods
Their vessels called first class boats by which
name they are distinguished from the majority of
those that supply transient customers. These deal
ers make what might be considered pretty fair
living and some who are long time engaged in the
business, have been enabled with economy and dill
gence to realize handsome little fortunes. 1t is not
however near as profitable as the oyster trade nor
does it afford so wide field for enterprise. 1t must
also be observed however, that if the profits are not
so considerable, the risks incurred by those employ
ed in itare not great. CLAIMS are never transplant
ed like oysters as they do not lie upon the surface
but are found scattered all over the coasts at r
regular intervals. To this fact may be partly attr
buted the great difference in the price, although we
think the labor OF procuring them is more arduous
The wholesale dealers, as we have said, enter
certain amount, at appointed times. II The
agreement is signed by both parties, each of
whom is liable to forfeiture of one hundred
dollars in the event Of its non-fuflment. The
party owning the boat sails fer the fishing
grounds, where he purchases the CLANS indiscrimi-
nately among the small boatmen, and having loaded
his vessel within the time prescribed by the con-
tract, returns to the specified place. Here he finds
his customer with his wagons ready to receive his
freight, and to transfer it to the hands of the retail
dealers, who generally purchase by the thousand
This contract is said to be binding in law, but we
heard ola suit originating from the failure OF
the parties to comply with its terms When de-
lay is caused by unavoidable circumstances, such as
difficulty in procuring the required supply, or
favorable weather, the penalty is never enforced.
The retail dealers are better paid in proportion to
the amount sold than the boatmen, or any others
engaged in the trade. They sell them at prices vary
ing from twenty five cents to two dollars hundred,
and they have been known to reach even three dol
lars hundred: In asserting them they are not
classified according to their size, like oysters-that
is, there no bushels counts, boxes, or extras
they are merely distinguished by the price at which
they are sold. The large boats are principally
owned by companies OF two persons, though some
are owned solely by the captain. Not more than
two men and hoy are required to sail one OF fifty
tons, which is about the measurement of the largest
craft in the trade. The average tonnage, however,
is about thirty, and the number Of CLAIMS brought to
market on each trip is about one hundred thousand.
Each vessel is calculated, makes about three trips
O month, which, for nine months gives total of two
millions seven hundred thousand CLAIMS. This it is
fair to presume is about the number carried by one
boat during the year, but when we come to consider
the almost incalcuable number brought to this city
by the hundred boats, our confidence might we'll be
shaken. According to this estimate there cannot be
less than two hundred and seventy millions received
in New York every year. A large amount of these,
it must be remembered, however, are not consumed
by New Workers, but are distributed all over the
State, by the railroads and canal boats. consider
able quantity picked and stored away in jars.
These are principally consumed on board of ships,
and during the past year we understand, large sup
ply was sent to California. The dealers also preserve
them by sailing, as they do mackerel and other
fish, but this process has not been pursued to any
extent.
Railroad Intelligence
The meeting held in the village of Nyack last Tues
day afternoon in reference the adoption of
towards securing river route through the county Of