108 THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



_ Capital invested. 



Value of boats, $3,300 



Value of skiffs, 250 



Value of gear, ........... 580 



Total, $6,130 



The three towns of Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester have common 

 fishery rights, as all three were included in the original town of Roches- 

 ter. In 1852 Marion became an independent town, and in 1857 Matta- 

 poisett was likewise separated from Rochester. Until 1S93 Marion and 

 Mattapoisett had separate fishery rights, Rochester having mutual rights 

 with both. Since then the fishery of these towns has been common to all 

 three. Every scalloper is required to have a permit, the boatmen pay- 

 ing $2, the skiff scallopers $1, respectively. 



The scallop industry supplanted the waning oyster industry at Marion 

 some twelve years ago, and for a time it flourished greatly. The abun- 

 dance of scallops and extent of the grounds furnish excellent scalloping. 

 After a few very successful years the industry suddenly died out and 

 became practically extinct. The direct cause is claimed by the scal- 

 lopers to have been the starfish, which came in the harbor in great 

 abundance at the time of the decline of the industry. Up to this 

 season but little scalloping had been done for several years, and not 

 a single permit was issued for the season of 1906-07. 



Maslipee. 

 The scallop territory of Mnshpee lies in the Popponesset River and 

 Bay. comprising at most 200 acres. For the last six years there has 

 been no scallop industry in the town. A few scallops are occasionally 

 taken for home consumption. 



Mattapoisett. 

 The scallop territory of Mattapoisett, comprising an area of 1,200 

 acres, much of which is open and exposed, is in general confined to the 

 following localities: Nasketucket Bay, Brant Bay, Brant Island Cove, 

 Mattapoisett harbor, Pine Neck Cove and Aucoot Cove. The location 

 and extent of these grounds are indicated on Map 8. 



Summary op Industry. 



Number of men, ........... 22 



Number of boats: — 



Sail 13 



Power, 6 



Total, 19 



Boats, how manned : — 



Single, 16 



Double, 3 



