Wonderfully evocative of the atmosphere of being up early for clam fishing.
The Clam Skiff’s Role in the Essex Clamming Industry
Outfit of a Clammer. — The outfit of a clammer does not require? much outlay of capital. A skiff or dory, one or two clam hoes and three? or four clam baskets complete the list. Occasionally, as at Ipswich,? where the clam grounds are widely scattered, power dories are used,? and this necessitates the investment of considerable capital; but the? investment of the average clammer does not exceed $26. Personal? apparel, such as oilskins and boots, are not considered under this head.?
Clamming Outfit.?
Skiff dory, $22 00?
Two clam diggers, 1 50?
Four clam baskets, 2 00?
Total, $25 50?
The boats most often used by the north shore clammers are called?
"skiff dories," and in construction are between a dory and a skiff.?
These boats are especially adapted for use in rivers.
Source: Massachusetts. Commissioners on Fisheries and Game. (1909). A report upon the mollusk fisheries of Massachusetts. Boston: Wright & Potter printing co., state printers.
October 9th, 2021 at 6:55 am
rising tide
the clammer’s skiff
begins to stir
—JEFFREY FERRARA
Wonderfully evocative of the atmosphere of being up early for clam fishing.
The Clam Skiff’s Role in the Essex Clamming Industry
Outfit of a Clammer. — The outfit of a clammer does not require? much outlay of capital. A skiff or dory, one or two clam hoes and three? or four clam baskets complete the list. Occasionally, as at Ipswich,? where the clam grounds are widely scattered, power dories are used,? and this necessitates the investment of considerable capital; but the? investment of the average clammer does not exceed $26. Personal? apparel, such as oilskins and boots, are not considered under this head.?
Clamming Outfit.?
Skiff dory, $22 00?
Two clam diggers, 1 50?
Four clam baskets, 2 00?
Total, $25 50?
The boats most often used by the north shore clammers are called?
"skiff dories," and in construction are between a dory and a skiff.?
These boats are especially adapted for use in rivers.
Source: Massachusetts. Commissioners on Fisheries and Game. (1909). A report upon the mollusk fisheries of Massachusetts. Boston: Wright & Potter printing co., state printers.
October 13th, 2021 at 11:01 am
Thank you, Alan, for your comment and for providing such a nice piece of background for the haiku.
October 9th, 2021 at 7:27 am
Nice Jeff.
__My parallel thought: a weave of mussels on a low tide stone; an inlet at Ray' Point, Millbridge Maine.
a punt
polled across this bay
mussel stone
November 30th, 2021 at 6:29 pm
Enjoyed your poem and it reminded me of an older weaker one of mine inspired by
Luchino Visconti’s “La terra trema" film:
fishing village
the bow lanterns fade
in the dawn