Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-08-30
Clam.Fisling With Bare Toes.

Judged by the quantities OF Little Neck
CLAIMS that are sold in New York res.
taurants and fish markets and arc shiprcd
t0 Western cities, that little part of I.nnr
Island must have the most prolific shell.
fish beds i'll the wide world in proportion
to its size. The truth is, however, that
more 'Iitilc Neck clans come from
Sandy Hook Bay and the Shrewsbury
River than from the whole of Long Isl.
and In fact. the Sandy Hook clam
"chuggers" cXicnlatc their deception of
conlidin% public by urging that while
"iittlc Meek has the name. after all
Shrewsbury has the flavor, and The pco-
pie who are deceived into buying Sandy
liookcrs for Little Necks really &c; bet
Ter bivalvc for their money
These clam "cmIGgcrs, ~ the fisher
men are called, form little colonies by
themselves, at least during Inc SUMMER
months, and the men, women and children
JON i'll the industry. Mes. of the clam;
are taken ut low tide with hand -rakcs and
drcdges, but the industry i; pursued So
laboriorsly and The remuneration IS so;
low, that little vcsiigc Of sport remains.
about ii. The farmers are Tie people who
make merry over it, however Almost
any fine day picnic party Of farmcrs,i
with their wives and sons and daughters !,
may be seen winding down to the beach
Ill their wagons for II days sport The
horses are tied To tbs wagon boxes ;,
plcntifully provided with lay and oats, j
and the men and women divide into sen;
a:;;tc parties and seek shelter TO dress for;
fine Tin. -, Il.
shirts and trousers; the women in old
gowns. All are harcfootcd. The only.
implements provided are two ~ three
tubs, no tongs, pitchforlis or ra!,c'..
Laughing and shouting they run down,
to the beach where the tide has gone oui ::
and are soon wading around in the water, :,
dragging the tubs after them.
The CLANS are Whiting for them. ncsllcd'
i'll the mud, and the wadcrs feel for them
with their bare tees. Many s,Iucal goes
up from the women and girls who are not,
used to the sport before they can with
stand the ticklsh feeling of grasping a
cold clam-shcll between the toes and lifi !
ing him TO the surface: but the practiscd
ones quickly deicct the clams from gravel,
empty shells OF sea weed, and bring them
mp with quick jerk and Il kick, within
reach of the hand, when they are tossed
into the ;u0s. ii the water is deep. and
il often is np TO the chin OF the wadcrs,
II takes some cXper:ncss to bring The clam
M without having 10 go right under
water for him, head and all, but the older
hands do it readily, and the girls push
tine tubs about within reach oi The best
fishermen ana make up for their lack of
skill by unlimited laughter, splashing and
fun. This is called treading for clans.
When the tide gets TOO high all hands
seek the shore. Dry clothes arc the next
thing on the programme, and then an
old wagon wheel tire is brought ont from
somewhere and laid on the ground. In
side this the clans are packed, hinges up,
and light fire OF brushwood and dried
scaweed is made Oh top Of them. Mean
time the girls have brought out the
luncheon bacilcts, with pickles, sauces
and good hard cider. In Fifteen minutes
the hot Goals are swept of the clam
shells, which are now MI open and gasp
ing for air, their steaming, luscious CON.
tents are quickly put on plates, and the
whole party enjoys clam-fcast in its
pcrfcction.-Ne' York I1iJuac.