114 THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



War eh am. 



Situated at the head of Buzzards Bay, the town of Wareham pos- 

 sesses 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 

 Abiel's Buoy and from there to Weweantit River. Scallops are also 

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

 water, which makes dredging the only profitable method of scalloping 

 in this locality. 



Scalloping is practically all done by dredging either from sail or 

 power boats, only 3 power boats being in use during the 1907-08 sea- 

 son. Three men from the village of Wareham use " pushers," but the 

 yield from this style of fishing is very small. The style of dredge in 

 most common use is the " scraper." This year the price paid for the 

 frame of the dredge is $3.50. These dredges have the blade set down- 

 ward firmly, and have a chain bottom of iron rings. The usual number 

 per boat is eight, but at Onset any number from four to fourteen are 

 used, according to the size of the boat and the individual choice of the 

 scalloper. Nearly all the boats are cat boats, averaging in value about 

 $300. 



About 30 regular openers have been engaged off and on by the scal- 

 lopers. When the catch was large at the first of the season more 

 openers were engaged, — often as many as 3 to a scalloper. One- 

 tenth of the number are women. 



Summary op Industry. 



Number of scallopers. ......... 45 



Number of boats: — 



Power, 3 



Sail 33 



Total, 36 



The quantity of scallops taken during 1907-08 was approximately 

 10.000 bushels, valued at $13,100. During October the catch was about 

 15 bushels per day for the average scalloper, but later became con- 

 siderably less. The greater part of the scallops were sold to the New 

 Bedford Fish Company, the representatives of which bought them 

 unsoaked from the fishermen. Certain of the fishermen, however, pre- 

 ferred to ship their catch to the Boston and New York markets. 



Capital invested. 



Value of boat? $10,800 



Value of gear, 1,300 



Value of shore property, 7.000 



Total $19,100 



