The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-06
FOR PROTECTION
OF The CLAM.
Arguments Made Before House
= Judiciary Committee.
VALUE OF CLAM PRESERVES.
Interestingly Explained by Professor Bumpus
Of Brown University.
THE STAR FISH MUST Be KEPT OUT.
Prof. Field Gave Some Of The Causes That Have
Contributed 10 ihs Present Oearih Effect
of hs Chmnlng Prccsss
Interestingly Explained by Professor Bumpus
Of Brown University.
THE STAR FISH MUST Be KEPT OUT.

VI hcplSSehtdtlNtS gave uedIlHB dt
IL o'clock this morning, at the State
House, to all persons interested In the
act to regulate and protect the clam
fisheries of the state.
The act provides that whenever the
commissioners of shell fisheries shall
deem it for the best interest OF the
public 10 prohibit the taking OF clans
from any OF the shores or waters OF the
state they shall have the right. in their
discretion, from time TO time, 10 mark
out and bound so much of the clam
grounds as they may think proper, the
clans from which grounds shall not be
taken during the time designated by
the commissioners.
During the continuance of said re-
striction, no person shall take any
clans from the grounds except by order
OF the commissioners. or shall injure or
deface the same Any person violating
amy of the provisions of this chapter
shall be fined $40 for each offence one
half which is for the use of the COM
plainant, and one-half for the use Of
the state.
Hon. James G.. Collins, of the shell
fish committee, stated that he had
heard many complaints i'm regard 10 the
deterioration in the size OF the CLAIMS in
Rhode Islond waters, and he believed
the time had come when something
should be done TO find a remedy.
Representative A. III. Harrington. of
the committee, stated that for the past
two years one-half or three-quarters OF
the CLAIMS in Rhode Island came from
Massachusetts and Maine. He said that
az one time In Cowesett bay and as far
as Oakland Beach excellent clans were
4. \ n - l. 49, n.
els had been dug in the last five years.
He did not believe that the churning of
clans tended to kill the bivalves. He
was not able to account for the condi-
ton OF things which made clans so
scarce. He said that CLAIMS grew large
enough for cooking purposes in two
seasons, but not I'm one season.
Prof. Bumpus of Brown university
and of the United States fish commits
sion laboratory at Woods Hole. said he
did not believe that CLANS We're materi-
ally effected by manufacturers waste.
He explained the growth of the young
CLAIMS. and ne said that the number of
young CLAIMS was so large that If prop
erly protected he had no doubt that the
shore line of Narragansett bay would
furnish all the clans needed. About the
time that the clam is burying in the
sand the star fishes are also propagat
ing. one of these young star fish can
get away with more CLAIMS in a day
than Rhode Islander. and this he be-
lieved one cause for the scarcity of
CLAIMS.
The clam did not reach the period of
sexual maturity until the second year,
and. perhaps. not until the third year.
and this prompted him TO suggest that
certain shore areas should be staked
out as tracts for the natural breeding
Of the clam That artificial propagation
OF the clam has been attempted off
Cape Ann, Massachusetts, and the in
vestigations of DR.. Kellogg showed
that If the small clans were placed
along the shore line and protected. the
harvest would be n paying one. But 10
do this the starfish must be kept out
of the preserves. and IL is a we'll known
fact that the starlish are increasing
rapidly, as they reach sexual maturity
i'm one year.
Tie thought that the man who had a
clam preserve could deal with the star
fish as the farmer deals with potato
bug. or still better as the starfsh is
dealt with on the oyster bed. Starfsh
devour every kind OF mollusk and also
many Of the Crustacea.
Prof. George w. Field. biologist Of the
Rhode Island Agricultural Experiment
tai station. also spoke, and the sun
stance of his remarks was that the
CAUSES nl the uiNdDDtdl Ol lne
clam are not far To seek. The demand
has long exceeded the supply. The
continual diminution of the number Of
breeders resulted in an annually de-
creasing set.
The indiscriminte turning over Of the
flats results In destruction of very
large proportion OF the young below a
marketable size. IT the conditions un-
der are ameliorated, the stress will he
lessened. and the result VIII be immedi-
ately felt in a larger supply of clans.
He suggested that feasible plan for
checking the evil was 10 divide the
clam fats OF the bay and coast into
sections. and subdivide each OF these
sections into four divisions plainly
marked by stakes. only one OF these
divisions should be dug for clans each
year.
by following this plan the clans I'm
every division would have three years
for growth. undisturbed. As a result
the average yield Of CLANS would be.
after a few years. upwards Of 800 BUSH
els per acre. which is many times the
entire yield of the whole Green island
flats. formerly one OF the most prolific
areas m Narragansett bay.
Mr. John IT. Northup Of the shell fsh
commission. believed that many clans
were Killed by churning. and yet by
the process Of churn ng large amount
Of CLAIMS had been driven into deep wa
ter. lie Also Thought tho large steam
crs I'm the bay had done n very great
deal towards the destruction Of the
clam. thousands Of bushels of the
spawn being washed ashore and killed.
4 clam after once settled I'm the sand
was safe from the starhsh. although
the seed clans might suffer materially.
He believed that the clans should be