The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-02
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 chief u
siness 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 CLAIMS do not lie upon
the sand in rocks beds, like oysters but found
beneath the surface, sometimes as 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 fit. A
rake, similar to that used in gardens, is the prnci-
pal instrument employed in taking them and some
times shades or shovels are used The exact locality
of clam is known by little blue spot, which marks
the entrance to its subterraneous, or sub-aque0us
abode. If it is hard shell the digger must approach
it wariy at first for if he is not very cautious in his
mode OF proceeding, he generally has consider
able difficulty in dislodging him. He must, to use
q scientific term, be undermined, 30 that when
he attempts to retreat to the lowest depths OF his
abode, the shovel will intercept him In his descent.
When attacked in this manner, the clam generally
emits small jet of water, as high sometimes as two
feet. This is apt to throw the novice in clam dig
cling of his guard, and it is. doubtless, means of
defence which the fish has against those birds that
prey upon it. The soft shell clam is different in its
shape from the hard shell, and Is not SO abundant.
II Is longer, and, as its name implies, has softer
rhe but there is very little difference in the taste
Of either kind. Those who expert In the art can
dig five six bushels in three hours, which is con.
sidered good days work. On those parts of the
coast which not left dry by the reux Of the tide
the dggers wade in sometimes as deep as their arm
pits and rake them up. We were told of boy who
picked them up with the toes of one foot while he
balanced himself on the other; in this way he would
compete with those who were armed with rake,
and not unfrequently came off successful. This
we give to our readers for what it il worth
merely remarking that it would require more
credulity than possess to believe it. Wonderful
feats have been performed with the toesthey have
been made TO write, and draw and perform many
other astonishing things, but it Is the first time we
ever heard Of their being employed In clam digging.
This story, however, was told by an old hand in the
clam business in presence of an audience of five
six all Of whom expressed their unwillingness to be-
u eve such "yarn." "But tell you it is true; saw
him do it with my own eyes. He stud up as straight
as a rush, and fetched them up quicker than you
could count en- said he, addressing the most obs
nate unbeliever Of the company. "Aud," he contn
ued, II any wants to see the lad, they find
him any time along the Shrewsbury shore, where he
il well known" This was clincher, and settled the
p1ater In dispute, for whatever doubts there might
DC az TO the performance of the feat, they set
at rest by the readiness with which the narrator gave
the local habitation of the wondrous clam digger.
AS as the astonishment Of bis audience subsidized
he taxed their faith still farther by relation Of