One interesting find from 3 days at the Cape

[oxbowbarefoot]

With beautiful sunny and unseasonably warm weather late last week, I decided to head down to Cape Cod to do a little beach detecting. I spent one day hunting alone and two days detecting with WaterWalker. Had a blast testing out the CTX and Deus in the wet and dry sand. Pickings were slim, mostly bits of melted aluminum and fishing tackle, but I did manage one interesting find. On my first day there I found this brass Massachusetts 2 inch shellfish measurement gauge. I wasn't exactly sure what it was at first, but we ran into another local detectorist who was able to explain what it is used for. Clams that can fit through are too small and must be released. Even though I didn't find any gold, I had a great time with WaterWalker. I'm looking forward to getting in the water once it warms up a little.

Anyone familiar with these gauges enough to date it? I don't imagine it's too old.

 

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[surfnturf]

It's older than me!
Oh man now I'm craving fried clams!

 

[lorraine]

That is such an interesting find, Oxbowbarefoot.

I'd love to get to the Cape this coming Spring or Summer; I love it there!

Wishing you more great hunts.

Lorraine

 

[CASPER-2]

I LIKE IT - WOULDNT MIND FINDIN ONE OF THOSE MYSELF - THINK YOURS COULD BE PRE WWII
(WHEN WWII HIT - THEY STOPPED USING BRASS FOR SUCH ITEMS) BUT MAY HAVE STARTED AGAIN AFTER THE WAR - BUT OTHER MATERIALS ARE CHEAPER
MOST ONES NOW ARE PLASTIC OR ALUMINUM AND THE CIRCULAR ONES DID NOT SEEM TO BE COMMON - I SAW ONE FROM TRURO THAT WAS ROUND AND BRASS - ONLY OTHER BRASS ONES IVE SEEN ARE RECTANGULAR AND LOOK LIKE A COLONIAL SHOE BUCKLE
I THINK YOURS MIGHT HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN FOR POSSIBLY OYSTERS

 

[CladiatorMax]

Very Cool! It's a conversation piece for sure. Put that on your mantle and listen to what people think it is. Thanks for sharing.

 

[plymouthian12]

Very nice. Lots of sand on the cape

 

[oxbowbarefoot]

Very nice. Lots of sand on the cape

yeah, it was HEAVILY sanded in in most areas. Hopefully I can find something a little less sandy next time.

 

[tony curnick]

I like your find alot!....very,very cool!

 

[MiamiFox]

Very interesting find and a simple way to know if there legal size or not.

 

[plymouthian12]

Hopefully when it opens I'll get out with waterwalker

 

[WaterWalker]

Anyone coming to the Cape...Bring such a ring with you or you will have to use my gauge (ring) to test your finds to see if they are legal size so may keep and take them home. If they are not of legal size...you must put them back. Kind of like catch and release for you that fish when not detecting. One more thing...everyone coming to the Cape MUST take home a 5 gallon bucket of sand...I am doing my best to get the sand moving, can you help? Please!

 

[rsilva02667]

Hey oxbow, like Casper said , you have an oyster gauge. A quahog gauge would be smaller and rectangular. Your gauge should measure 3" across the middle, unless the size limit was different before.. You rest the heal of the oyster on one side and rock it back and hope the top of the oyster doesn't pass through the ring. What town did you make it to? I'm down in the Wellfleet area


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[rsilva02667]

Here's mine. They make them out of stainless steel now. If it were plastic, the sharp oyster would cut the circle making the whole bigger than three inches which you wouldn't want. Spend enough time in Wellfleet and you will learn tons about oysters, they say we have the best in the world!


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[rsilva02667]

I just noticed that yours says 2 inch.. Could be a clue to how old it is..


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[rsilva02667]

2 inch ring represents a soft shell clam, also known as steamers or piss clams because they shoot out water when you dig them.


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[Mackaydon]

Most interesting find ! Congrats.
Good memories of the Cape.
Got SCUBA certified there in 1960 by two veteran Korean War UDT divers.
Don....

 

[oxbowbarefoot]

2 inch ring represents a soft shell clam, also known as steamers or piss clams because they shoot out water when you dig them.


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Thanks for the info! It has a nice patina, so I imagine it has some age too it, but the integrity of the metal seems too good for it to be too old.