 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
littlenecks on a sandbar or in shallow water; but bigger clams are gathered by commercial
fisherman with "hydraulic dredges" towed by fishing boats. This technique is employed in
Mid-Atlantic and New England waters to harvest surf clams and ocean quohogs.
The surf clam/ocean quahog fishery was one of the first in the United States to be managed
by individual transferable quotas (ITQs). The right to catch a certain number of clams each
year is given to each member of the fishery depending on his prior performance in the fishery.
Individuals who own rights to harvest these clams may sell or lease these rights to others.
pump on the boat pumps sea water through a large hose to a manifold on the front of the
dredge. The manifold jets the water into the sand, temporarily fluidizing it and allowing the
dredge to pass through. Due to the carefully set spacing of the bars making up the body of
the dredge most of the smaller clams and other organisms pass through, the larger clams
being retained.
While the impact of hydraulic dredges on the bottom at first glance seems severe, the
mechanical restrictions that the gear imposes - hose length, pumping pressure, etc. - limits
their use to shallow water. The sandy bottom environments in these areas are normally
exposed to far greater perturbations during winter storms and take such disturbances in
stride. (from www.FishingNJ.org )
measuring and storage in wire "cages"
www.FishingNJ.org . We thank them very much.
sandy or sand-and-mud bottoms, usually
below the low-tide line. It's easier to dig for
them at low tide.
Digging your own quahogs requires little or no
equipment. One popular method is "treading":
Simply probe the bottom with your foot until
you feel a quahog, then reach down and pull it
up with your hand.
Alternatively, you may use a clam rake A clam
rake resembles a garden rake, but the tines
are longer and the handle is shorter, and
sometimes there's a built-in collection basket.
Drag the rake through the bottom until you
feel a scraping, then push the rake in deeper
and pull it toward you and upwards to harvest
the quahogs. Be sure to wear old shoes or
sneakers to protect your feet.
clam digging tools, and
even books and boats
