Salem
Salem has far better natural advantages for clam culture than the other towns in its immediate vicinity, and leads in clam production, though the industry is of very inferior proportions. Seven men are at present employed in digging the harbor flats, where the clams have very recently seeded in. Many of these clams, though rather small, are shucked, and the remainder are sold in the local markets. The entire value of the annual production does not exceed $200, and the capital invested amounts to but $75. This is rather poor showing for 100 acres of flats for the most part comparatively good, and capable of yielding $11,000 annually. The Salem clammers dig also in the Danvers River in the town of Danvers.
Summary of Industry.
| Number of men, | 7 |
| Capital invested, | $75 |
| Production, 1907:— | |
| Bushels, | 200 |
| Value, | $200 |
| Total area (acres):— | |
| Sand, | 75 |
| Mud, | 25 |
| Gravel, | — |
| Mussels and eel grass, | — |
| Total, | 100 |
| Productive area (acres):— | |
| Good clamming, | 5 |
| Scattering clams, | 10 |
| Barren area possibly productive (acres), | 70 |
| Waste barren area (acres), | 15 |
| Possible normal production, | $11,000 |