OF MASSACHUSETTS. 103 



economic and financial loss to the State, as many more scallops could 

 have been captured without injury to the future supply if more fisher- 

 men had been given an opportunity to enjoy this fishery. 



The following season, 1905-06, presented a marked contrast to that 

 of 1904-05. Some adverse conditions had injured the set of 1905. 

 and as a result there were scarcely any adult scallops. By January 1 

 the scallops of the 1906 set had become large enough in certain locali- 

 ties to permit capture. Owing to the high prices, these scallops, less 

 than eight months old ("seed" scallops), were profitable to catch, 

 and the season's catch at Dennisport after January 1 consisted of these 

 young scallops. At that time the present " seed " scallop law was not 

 in force, so the capture of these scallops Avas entirely legal. 



About 6 men were engaged during 1905-06 in scalloping at Dennis- 

 port. The scallops were obtained by dredging in the deeper water. The 

 average catch was 3 to 4 bushels per day. The 1906-07 season was 

 hardly above the average. At West Dennis 8 men were engaged in 

 scalloping on the flats with " pushers." The scallops were small, aver- 

 aging about 2 inches in width. It is only once every three or four years 

 that West Dennis scallops are in the deep water where it is necessary 

 to dredge them ; usually the scallops are found on the shallow-water flats. 

 The 1907-08 season is the best season the town has had since 1904-05. 



Dartmouth. 



A few scallops are occasionally found in Slocum's River and other- 

 places, but in no quantity to furnish any commercial fishery. 



Eastham. 

 The scalloping grounds are on the west side of the town, about half 

 a mile out. During the season of 1906-07, 6 men, working at intervals 

 during the winter, managed to take a total of 500 bushels from these 

 flats. 



Edgartown. 



Edgartown, situated at the eastern end of Martha's Vineyard, pos- 

 sesses extensive scallop grounds, and is one of the leading towns in the 

 production of this shellfish. This fishery, even more important than 

 the quahaug industry, furnishes steady winter employment for a large 

 number of the inhabitants. 



The important grounds are in Cape Poge Pond and in Edgartown 

 harbor, while occasionally beds of scallops, especially " seed," are found 

 in Katama Bay. These grounds comprise an area of 2,000 acres, chiefly 

 of grass bottom. 



At Edgartown scalloping is done both with sail and with power boats, 

 which are generally auxiliary cat boats, though power dories are used 

 to some extent. All but two of the power boats are doubly manned, 



