32 



The North Harbor Islands, lying about two miles north of 

 the preceeding group, form a long, narrow crescent extending 

 nearly at right angles to the main chain. From the southern 

 side extends a broad flat, which is similar to and in part con- 

 nected with that of the New Harbor Islands. At the north point 

 a large clam bank, which is shown on the chart, has entirely dis- 

 appeared. The southwestern point is continued into an ex- 

 tensive flat, slightly different from the other flats already re- 

 ferred to, in that it is almost entirely clean sand, with prac- 

 tically no eel grass upon it. 



The Freeemason Islands are separated from this point by 

 a channel about a mile and a half wide. Charted as four islands, 

 there are at present only three important ones, the change which 

 has taken place being indicated on the accompanying chart by 

 heavy stippling. Along the eastern side of the group is a wide 

 barren flat, which is continued for about a mile below the 

 southern point. The Old Harbor Island is a low spit of broken 

 shells and coarse sand lying in a southwesterly direction from 

 the Freemasons, and contains nothing connected with the pres- 

 ent report. Many fish were seen in the deep holes close to the 

 spit, and should be a profitable fishing ground during some 

 seasons of the year. 



III. DESCRIPTION AND HABITS OP THE SCALLOP. 



The scallop (Pectens irradtons) found in this region is ex- 

 tensively fished in the waters of Massachusetts and adjoining 

 States, where it is considered a great delicacy. In referring to 

 the food value of the scallop. Dr. Hugh M. Smith, in his report 

 on the giant scallop fishery of Maine, says : ' ' Scallops in general 

 have always been highly esteemed for their edible qualities, and 

 in many localities are regarded as among the choicest products 

 of the water. Unfortunately, the usual retail prices are so 

 high that the great mass of the people have never been permitted 

 to partake of this luscious food."* An analysis of the com- 

 parative food values of the different edible molluscs, quoted in 

 the same report, places the scallop at the head of the list in the 

 possession of the highest percenta,2:e of nutrient material, out- 

 elnssin?' even the oyster in this respect. 



* The Giant Scalloii FishiDK of Maine, Bull. U. S. F. C, Vol. IX. 1883, p. 333. 



