100 



THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



were rapidly caught the first of the season, as these flats were near the 

 town. Here the water is not more than IV2 to 2 feet deep at low tide, 

 and thick eel grass covers the greater part except near the channel. 

 The first of the season a man could obtain S bushels per day, but later 

 a catch of 2 bushels was considered good. 



(2) Directly south of Harding's Beach lies John Perry's flat, com- 

 monly known as " Jerry's," where there has been good scalloping for 

 many years. 



(3) The western half of the Common Flats furnished the best seal- 

 loping in 1907-08, as the scallops, though small (6 pecks to a gallon), 

 were plentiful. These flats run nearly dry on low course tides, and 

 are covered with eel grass. Nearly every year there is a heavy set of 

 scallop seed, which, because of the exposed nature of the flats, is 

 wholly or partially destroyed. The entire set was destroyed in the win- 

 ter of 1904—05, while 30 per cent, was lost in 1906-07. 



(4) On the flats just south of Inward Point was another bed of 

 scallops. 



(5) In the bend north of Inward Point scallops were plentiful. 



(6) On the northwest edge of the Common Flats scallops can be 

 dredged over an area of 160 acres at a depth of 5 fathoms. These 

 are of good size, opening 3V2 quarts to the bushel. 



Two methods of obtaining scallops are emploj'ed : (1) by the use 

 of the "pusher;" and (2) by dredging. As the "pusher" is used on 

 the flats at low water where the boats cannot sail, the boat man pos- 

 sesses the advantage of " pushing " at low tide and dredging at high 

 water. Sixty per cent, of the scallopers at Chatham go in dories and 

 use " pushers," as the Common Flats afford excellent opportunity for 

 this sort of fishing; the remaining 40 per cent, scallop in boats, using 

 " pushers " to a limited extent. Four to six box dredges are used for 

 each boat, the smaller boats carrying four, the larger six. 



Last season 34,615 gallons, valued al $45,345, were shipped to Boston 

 and New York. Shipments are made in butter tubs, containing 4 to 

 6 callons each. 



