Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-08-20
tFor the American
The Clam acknowledgements.
MISUNDERSTANDING.

81 can dig clans for living is q COM
mon saying in localities where this shell fish
aboun!s. This comes from the fact, that
it requires but little trouble or expense; and
from the Revolution to the present time the
"clam flats" in ''hard times, have furnish
cd the means of subsistence when all other
sources failed. Notwithstanding every one
is familiar with this article of commerce,
and of food, few are aware of the quantity
dug for sale in many places on our coast
There has been bought at Sargentsyille,
Sedgwick, where l am now writing, by
Messes. w. G. Sargent & Co., eleven hun
dred barrels of clam-bait the present season.
This at 500 per barrel, about the usual
price, amounts to $4,400 paid in three
months by one firm, in a small place, not
large enough to have a Post Office.
About the first of March a vessel goes to
Boston for corn, flour. pork, &c. &c. &C.
The diggers know that her cargo is for them
especially, and they arouse from their Win
ter's lethargy to the greatest activity. Ey-
cry pleasant day, men, women and children
are seen on the flats industriously engaged
in taking the clans from their winter bed
When the vessel from Boston with her cargo
arrives, what stir, The vessel and wharf
are throngcd with those who are impatient
to ent.r upon their spring business, of clam
ing. None but those who are used to these
stirring periods, could have patience, such
is the incessart call made upon them. "a
Dbl. of -four, George, then, "Rodney, get me
a round of pork ~ SCOT any good tobac-
COZ" Esquire Sargent, hurry and get me
3 bbs. and salt, want to save this tide -
Thus it continues for hours; yet everything
goes on like clock work. | have known this
firm to exchange for bait, goods to the
amount of five hundred dollars in one tide
(high water.) Every Dbl. is critically ex-
amined, and no bait purchased but the best
tlong experience has taught them to tell the
quality at once.) This $4,400, distributed
in provisions, in the spring time, enables
many family to climb up 'May hill, y that
othcrwis, might find the task hard one
Many of our best citizens engage in this bu-
sincss in the spring, for the simple reason
that they cannot do as well at any oeher bu-
sincss.
If the fishing bounty law should be repeal
ed, Us this administration have commenced
to do, it would be death blow to this whole
business; for the most of this bait Is for the
Bank fishing vessels, they touching here for
it On the voyage. But this is not all the
business done here. There will be paid out
between March and November, some $4,000,
and the most Of it for labor performed
by those living here. We are building a
large coasting vessel, and We know the Bu-
chanan party is for admitting foreign tom
mage to engage IN our coasting trade, which
would be ruinous to their interest. We are
all going to vote for Mr.. Foster because he
is friendly To both these interests. Some of
them say we must vote for Mr.. Bradbury
because he opposes Mr.. Buchanan's policy,
but wien We See all the ofiiceholders work
Ing and spending their money to elect him,
we think it is little too much like stealing
the livery of the Court of Heaven to serve
the devil in. w.
August, 1853.
ave repeat that the Reciprocity Treaty
was favored, aided and voted for by all the
New England Republicans i'll Congress, with
a single exception" Machias Union.
This exception is Mr.. Washburn. We
last week proved that the Union had uttered
a falsehood IN this matter, SO far as Mr..
Hamlin is concerned, by publishing his de-
nil of the fact. We now charge home on
the Union, another mis-statement in the
above extract. Hon w. P. Fessenden stated
in his address in this village Wednesday
that though the proceedings of the Senate,
in acting upon that Treaty are secret, yet a
Senator had a right to say how he voted,
and he could say for himself THAT HE DID NOT
VOTE FOR IT. The Union is the most reck-
loss sheet in its statements, that we have on
our exchange list.