106 THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



We find the following account of the scallop fishery of Fairhaven 

 written by A. Howard Clark in 1879 : — 



Ten boats took 2,100 bushels of scallops in 1880. Fourteen men with 10 

 boats dredge for scallops from the middle of October to the middle of 

 January. Great quantities are found in the Acushnet Eiver, as well as 

 along the western shore of the bay. A small dredge, holding about a 

 bushel, is used. It is made with an oval-shaped iron frame, 3*4 feet in 

 length. Wire netting is used in the front part and twine at the back. 

 Small sail boats, each with two men, fish with from one to twelve of these 

 dredges in tow, sailing with just enough sheet to allow a slow headway. As 

 soon as a dredge is filled, the men " luff up," haul in, empty, and go on. 

 These little boats take from 10 to 75 bushels a day. If the breeze be 

 unfavorable, one man takes the oars while the other tends the dredges. 



The amount of production at the present time is about the same, 

 or even more, than the figures given for 1879. In all other respects 

 the industry has changed. Five times as many men now work at the 

 business, while more boats and capital are invested. This looks as if 

 the industry had improved. The industry as regards the methods of 

 capture has improved, but the actual production has remained the same. 

 Xow the season lasts barely three weeks, whereas twenty -five years ago 

 with few men it lasted four months. 



Fall River District. 

 No scallop fishery exists in these waters at the present time. In 

 1879, 800 gallons were taken from this region. This furnishes an ex- 

 cellent illustration of the total decline of the scallop fishery in certain 

 localities. 



Falmouth. 



The town of Falmouth cannot be said to support any scallop indus- 

 t ry of importance. Each year in Squeteague Pond, Wild Harbor, North 

 Falmouth and in West Falmouth harbor a few scallops can be found; 

 but these are used only for limited local consumption, and usually are 

 very scarce. Scallops are occasionally present in small quantities in 

 Waquoit Bay. 



Harwich. 



The scallop territory of Harwich covers an extensive area on the 

 south side of the town, and in some places extends for a distance of 

 from 2 to 3 miles out from shore. Usually the scallops are found, as 

 in the last season (1907-08), outside the bar, at a distance of 3 miles 

 from shore, where they can be taken only by dredging from sail or 

 power boats. The intervening body of water sometimes contains a few 

 scallops in a quantity to make a commercial fishery. The total area 

 of the scallop grounds is about 3,200 acres. The bottom is mostly 

 sandy, with patches of eel grass. 



All the scallops are caught by dredging, as the water is too deep for 



