The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-17
RHODE ISLANDS HELPLESS CLANS.
Unless They Arc Protected by Law They VIII
Become Extinct.

HsS aNN@ nv AotVSsS " - AhOS SNhAa
Becomr Extinct.
From the Providence Netrs.
Under the charter granted tho colony Of
Rhode Island by King Charles II. in 1868. GER
tain specified rights and privileges were granted
the individual citizen. This charter remained
present Constitution in 1912. Among the other
that the residents shall have full and free
power and liberty to continue and use the trade
thereunto adjoining, or any arm OF the seas, or
salt water rivers and creeks. where they have
been accustomed to fish,
necessary to forever protect these rights, and
therefore Article l.. section II, says; "rhe peo-
ali the rights OF fishery and the privileges Of the
shore TO which they have been heretofore en-.
titled under The l'eS charter ana Isages OF this state:
any existing right impaired by this declaration"
Under these provisions two rights have by pre-
cedence and long usage been secured. first, the
undisputed right to dig clans on any coast Of
the sea, or arms thereof, on salt water rivers or
private land adjoining said shores to accom-
plish tho purpose aforesaid.
The privilege was evidently intended for the
benefit Of the families in the colony and State
to furnish them with food. and now that the
danger is imminent that our Rhode Island
to com to the rescue. II the actual wording Of
the Constitution can he literally adhered 70.
That says; But no new right is intended to he
granted" What, then. was granted Simply the
right that individuals or families might procure
them for food. Now, a host of men are giving
securing every clam In sight, not fol. our individ-
uals and families. but for the thousands and
thousands who come from afar after our CLANS,
well knowing that their equals do not anywhere
exist.
Another new right Ia also introduced,
against which we here record our solemn pro.
tests, and that Is the 3 present barSaEous, licked
shovel Is now generally used because II turns
up so much more dirt, and brings to the %rurface'
many more CLANS, but every incision OF that
spade or shovel into the dirt Inevitably cruBhes
Is maintained by some that the more the clam
grounds are dug over the more rapidly they
will grow. That Is true to y limited extent, but
when the small ones are used UP, where Is the
new seed to come FRONT
Tho question then arises, does the clam need
protection Let the answer come from those
who attended clanbakes the past season, and
they will invariably reply, that in almost every
in size that they did not have the requisite time
to make a meal, and the persons serving the
bake would inform you that II you want native
clans you must have small ones or none. The
idea OF imposing Cape Cod ciRms may do to try
on strangers, but they will not pass muster
among our people. who know what ia what.
We ask then protection FOR the clam, either
a construction OF our state COnstit ution speci-
or by general consent. to give the CLANS one
season OF rest.
Our state has ever been famous for certain
products, Providence ,Hivor oysters, Rhode ISL
Island clans. and Rhode Island grconings. and
while il ls true that the latter, owing to the alb
sence OF some element In the soil or a change Ia
our climate, has lost It's flavor and keeping quail
the reputation OF the Others IL carefully guard
cd and forever preserved and protected.