types of processing machinery are treated in a 

 separate section. A wide variety of vessels and 

 gear and extensive tests of processing equip- 

 ment provided a broad background of knowl- 

 edge and experience. Machinery improvement, 

 the increasing market demand, and the ample 

 stocks of calico scallops provided a valuable 

 potential, and recent events point to the estab- 

 lishment of a fishery in eastern Florida. 



THE NORTH CAROLINA FISHERY 



Interest in the commercial potential of the 

 North Carolina calico scallop grounds was 

 stimulated by Bureau explorations in 1959 with 

 the Silver Bay (Cruise Report No. 18). Soon 

 after the Core Banks discovery in 1959, spo- 

 radic production of calico scallops began in 



Carteret County (fig. 2). A unique combination 

 of aggressive fishermen, handling facilities, 

 and suitable labor supply led to the develop- 

 ment of a fishery and adjacent shore-based 

 processing operations. Production has risen 

 since 1959 when three boats produced 6,500 

 pounds of meats valued at $2,600 to 1,856,760 

 pounds of meats valued at $368,703 from 17 

 boats in 1966 (table 1). 



With a minimum of handling at sea (little 

 or no sorting is required), the catch is landed 

 in the shell for shucking houses and hand pro- 

 cessing. 2 Since 1959 the location of fishing 

 grounds and availability have changed. While 



2 Only in Carteret County, N.C., has it been demon- 

 strated economically feasible to schuck and eviscerate 

 calico scallops by hand. 



' '•-■ - " 



.■ 



NORTH CAROLINA 



SCALLOP GROUNDS 



AREA SURVEYED 

 COMMERCIAL AREAS 



V 



Figure 2. — Commercial scallop concentrations located in the Cape Lookout area of North Carolina. 



