BIOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY 175 



TABLE 7 

 Scallop Production,* North Carolina, 1880 to 1948 



Pounds Value 



1880 

 1887 

 1888 

 1889 

 1890 



1897 

 1902 

 1918 

 1923 

 1927 

 1928 

 1929 

 1930 



1931 

 1932 



1934 

 1936 



1937 

 1938 

 1939 

 1940 

 1941 

 1942 



1943 

 1944 



1945 

 1946 



1947 

 1948 



* Production j&gures from Federal statistics except as noted. 



t Figures based on tax returns to N. C. Division of Commercial Fisheries. 



occurred in December, 1928. Outsell (1931) states that "the considerable 

 scallop mortality which followed (late in December, 1928) was due to 

 unusual chilling (of the water) . . . accompanied by extreme ebb tides that 

 left the scallop flats exposed for considerable intervals." Following the dis- 

 appearance of eelgrass in the early 1930's and the severe hurricane of 1933, 

 production of scallops dropped to less than 100,000 pounds and has never 

 regained its former magnitude. 



INDUSTRY. Scallops are harvested by raking or dredging. A raker wades 

 over the flats, generally through the low tide period, to rake the scallops by 

 hand. The rake resembles a potato or peanut digger with 6 tines fitted with 

 a small wire basket to aid in retaining the scallops. Dredging is done from 

 various small boats up to 35 and 40 feet in length. 



