MUD DIGGIN G

Starting in the early 1890’s, mudding the farm land was cai- ried on in Clinton by shovelling the mussel mud from the beds 0.1 South-West River at low tide in the springtime into scows. This was taken to nearby Ross’ point, later Mark Cole’s point, and from there in horse drawn vehicles and spread on the land. By the turn of the century, mud digging was carried on in the winter months. A large cake of ice was cut by the men who had diggers at med- ium tide. This cake probably covered about two acres, and was moved unto the mussel beds. Mud diggers were then moved unto this ice cake and the mud was lifted by a large fork on a handfe 20 or 30 feet long, and was hauled up by a horse on a capstan and then dumped into sleighs. This mussel mud contained a large amount of oyster shell and, with the mixture of mussels and mud around them, made excellent fertilizer for the land, as the oyster shells provided the needed lime. Farmers came from many miles to harvest this mud, which was landed along the shores of the creeks, where it could be hauled later at a more convenient time. As many as fifty sleighs could be seen coming down the road during a morning, many of them from Fredericton, Springfield and Emerald. Along the north shore, they came up the ice from Stanley Bridge, Cavendish and other communities. This was a source of income for the men who dug the mud and it was valuable food for the soil for those who could take advantage of it. In later years, chemical fertilizers and lime took the place of the muddy “goo”.

FENCING

In the early days, pine stumps, brush or stone dikes were used for fencing, which cost the farmer nothing. Pole fences were also used which cost little more than the time it took to cut the pole5

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