There are 3 regular and 4 intermittent quahaugers, with an invested capital of $70, who are obliged by the town laws to have a permit costing $1. The quahaug industry of the town has remained about the same for the last twenty-five years, and now a good quahauger can scarcely average 1½ to 2 bushels per day.
Summary of Industry.
| Area of quahaug territory (acres), | 400 |
| Number of men, | 7 |
| Number of boats, | — |
| Value of boats, | — |
| Number of skiffs, | 5 |
| Value of skiffs, | $50 |
| Value of implements, | $20 |
Production.
| "Little necks":— | |
| Bushels, | 25 |
| Value, | $60 |
| Quahaugs:— | |
| Bushels, | 225 |
| Value, | $225 |
| Total:— | |
| Bushels, | 250 |
| Value, | $285 |
Mattapoisett.
The town of Mattapoisett, situated to the west of Marion, receives but little income from her shellfisheries, as the waters are for the most part too open and exposed for shellfish culture. The quahaug fishery is the most important shellfish industry of the town, but even this, when compared with the quahaug fishery of other towns, is rather unimportant, as most of the suitable territory is nonproductive.
Quahaugs are very unevenly distributed over 800 acres. The best quahaugs are found in Aucoot Cove and at Brants. In the main harbor quahaugs are found, though scattering, as indicated on the map.
No licenses or permits are required of the 28 men and boys who add to their income from time to time by quahauging. Most of these depend on other sources of employment for their main support. The industry as a whole is gradually declining, as overfishing has made it impossible for the natural supply to perpetuate itself.
Summary of Industry.