For many years New York was the leading producer of hard clams in the United States. From 1972 to 1977, the annual dockside value of hard clams was between 2 and 3 times higher than the annual dockside value of all marine finfish species combined. Historically, hard clam production in New York has fluctuated periodically. A significant increase in production occurred in the late 1940s followed by a sharp decline in the mid 1950s. Production then steadily increased to the mid 1970s when both the volume and value of New York's hard clam harvest reached record high levels, and then started to decline again. From 1980 to 1985 the annual harvest decreased from over 400,000 bushels to 183,000, increased again to almost 238,000 bushels in 1989, and then declined to 185,000 bushels in 1992. Since 1992, production increased slowly each year to 1997 when the annual harvest reached 234,000 bushels.
THE HARVESTING SECTOR
A variety of methods are used in New York to harvest hard clams. Most baymen use hand gear, primarily rakes or tongs. Rakes are the predominant type of gear. Industry sources estimate that about 80 to 90% or more of Long Island's clamdiggers use rakes, and almost all of the North Shore baymen use this gear. Baymen generally keep several different rakes on hand with different teeth and handles of different lengths which are used in areas of varying depths and bottom composition. Industry sources estimate that average expenses for rake gear are likely to be at least $500 per year. Tongs are another traditional type of gear used to harvest clams. A tong consists of two metal basket ends attached to two 10 to 18 foot long handles. Specialized skills and considerable physical stamina are required to successfully use both rakes and tongs. Raking or tonging is generally conducted from 20 to 35 foot boats with an outboard motor. Industry sources estimate that start up expenses for a bayman entering the tong or rake fishery with a new boat, motor, and gear would range between $12,000 to $15,000, and with used equipment this cost could be reduced by from one third to one half. One of the major expenses encountered by baymen is the cost of outboard motors, which generally need to be replaced every 2 to 3 years and cost between $6,000 to $7,000.
"Donkey" or "overboard" raking is a harvesting technique used in some areas of Long Island in which the clam digger rakes clams while standing in the water rather than from a small boat. Other harvesting techniques utilized on Long Island include "hacking" and "treading". Hacking is a harvesting technique in which clams are dug up at low tide from exposed mud flats using garden tools or rakes. Treading is a traditional harvesting method in which clams are dug in shallow water with the baymen's feet. These harvesting methods are favored by part-time baymen along the western portion of the South shore, but some full time baymen also use these harvesting techniques in certain areas or at certain times of the year.
There are more New Yorkers who earn all or part of their living in the hard clam fishery than from any other fishery in the state. Over the past 25 years, the number of shellfish diggers' permits issued in New York declined significantly from a peak of almost 10,000 in 1976 to about one-fourth that number by 1985. However, the number of shellfish digger permits issued by the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation each year over the past decade has remained relatively stable. During the last 10 years, the number of diggers' permits has not varied by more than 100-150 permits from one year to the next. The largest change occurred from 1997 when 3,130 permits were issued to 1998 when 2,504 permits were issued.
