102 THE SCALLOP FISHERY 



(d) Marion. The scallop grounds of the town extend over an area 

 of 1,500 acres, situated on both sides of Great Neck, and extending 

 from the Wareham line to Aucoot Cove. 



(e) Wareham. Situated at the head of Buzzard's Bay, this town 

 possesses a considerable water area which is suitable for scallops. The 

 entire territory, embracing approximately 2,500 acres, extends in a 

 southwesterly direction from Peter's Neck, including Onset Bay, to 

 AbiePs buoy, and from there to Weweantit River. Scallops are also 

 found in the Wareham River. Scallops are mostly found in the deep 

 water, which makes dredging the only profitable method of scalloping in 

 this locality. 



(/) Bourne. The available scalloping territory covers approxi- 

 mately 3,000 acres, extending from Buttermilk Bay along the whole 

 coast of the town to Cataumet. 



(g) Falmoulh. Scallops are found in Squeleague Pond, Wild 

 harbor, North Falmouth and in West Falmouth harbor. Scallops are 

 occasionally present in small quantities in Waquoit Bay, on the south 

 shore of the town. 



The Islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. - - This section 

 bears evidence of the protection of a fishery by nature and the ability 

 of the inhabitants to foster a valuable industry. In both islands the 

 natural conditions are such as to supply the maximum aid in the preser- 

 vation of the fishery. The scallop territory, for the most part, lies in 

 protected bays, Nantucket harbor, Cape Poge Pond and Vineyard 

 Haven. Certain parts of the territory are exposed and subject to condi- 

 tions unfavorable for the scallop, but the greater portion is well inclosed 

 and favorably suited for regulating the distribution of " seed." The 

 rise and fall of the tides is slight, not averaging more than 2 feet. A 

 variety of bottom mostly covered with eel grass is found in all the 

 localities, while the depth of water over the beds averages from 10 to 15 

 feet, rarely exceeding 25. 



In this section, no matter how scarce the supply may be elsewhere 

 in the State, the yield of scallops is constant. While there is more or 

 less variation in the different years, extreme scarcity and superabun- 

 dance, so common in the other sections, occur here but rarely, and the 

 scallop supply from this locality is considered the most dependable in 

 Massachusetts. The total area comprised in this section is 7,300 acres. 



(a) Nantucket. - - The grounds lie both in Nantucket harbor and in 

 Maddequet harbor, on the Avest end of the island. The former of these 

 is the larger and more important, as the fishery is near the town. When 

 the scallops become scarce in Nantucket harbor, the scallopers adjourn 

 to the fresher beds of Maddequet. Nantucket harbor contains approxi- 

 mately 3,000 acres of scallop territory; Maddequet and Muskeget, 1,500 

 acres. 



