July 25, 2012

My Grandfather and father sold the clam rake business to Drew when I was a young boy. They used to make the rakes in my grandfather's basement in Braintree. When they had a dozen of them made dad would take them to fish and bait shops and sell them. My grandfather moved to New Jersey and sold the house so the machine that put the tip on the tine and all the other equipment had to go.

They also made winter and summer eel spears . All that went to Drew at that  time. All had a Large E & M on the side. Of course Drew must have changed that.

We had a summer home in Falmouth Cape Cod. Owned a house lot right on Green Pond. We scratched for Quahog all the time. Using of course the ones dad  made.

My grandfather was from Oyster Bay Long Island N.Y. His father had a sizable potato farm and was a black smith. He made those rakes by hand and from scratch. Eel spears too. I have a hand made one and a few eagle claw rakes, including a new one, never used, 11 tines.

My Grandfather's name was Lester Merit and my dad's was Stan Erikson, thus the E & M. My name is Jack Erikson . I live in Falmouth now.