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was fished out since no strong year-classes had recruited in 

 these areas. Preliminary 1979 data support that conclusion. 



Recent higli yields have been the result of a single 

 good year-class (1972) which was observed throughout the 

 three principal areas in which the scallop fishery is conducted; 

 i.e., the Mid-Atlantic, the Georges Bank, and the Northern 

 Part on Georges Bank. As mentioned, recruitment prospects 

 now are poor in the Mid-Atlantic and Great South Channel 

 areas. Even if a good year-class materialized in these 

 areas, it would require about three years to develop to a 

 harvestable stage. 



Also significant is the fact that many new vessels have 

 entered the scallop fishery in recent years, probably in 

 response to the dramatic increase in the price of scallops. 

 In 1974, 34 U.S. vessels reported dredging for scallops; 

 by 1977 that number had risen to 155. 



Under the proposed action, U.S. scallopers would face 

 a significant decrease in the supply of scallops available 

 to them on Georges Bank, as shown in the table, even if the 

 total catch at the 197B level could be maintained. The 

 nine percent increase in the U.S. 1979 total Georges Bank 

 scallop catch over 1978 was the result of a 45 percent 

 increase in effort, as shown in Figure 6. Further concen- 

 trations of U.S. effort in the northeastern part of Georges 

 Bank combined with continued Canadian effort at current 



