THE ECONOMIC MOLLUSC A OF ACADIA. 65 



•who have tried them declare that onr Scallop is quite as good 

 food as is Pecten ir radians. In all probability, methods of 

 capturing, preparing for market, utilization of shells, etc., of 

 the latter would apply equally well to our species. 



Pecten irradians is taken on the coast of the United States 

 ^between Cope Cod and New Jersey. It has been found within 

 'the limits of Acadia also, at Sable Island. But it is too rare 

 to be of any commercial value with us. The annual value of 

 the fishery to the United States is about 1(28,000 to 129,000, 

 ■this being the price received by the fishermen for from 70,000 

 to 75,000 gallons of the edible parts. The fishery gives 

 employment to about 250 men and 470 women and children. 

 Mr. Ingersoll, in the paper referred to below (a full and 

 interesting treatment of the subject) says of the mode of 

 taking them, — " Scallops are caught by hand-dredging from 

 small sail-boats. The dredges are about thirty inches in 

 •width, have a scraper-blade upon the bottom, and m favorable 

 weather several may be thrown over from each boat. In 

 shoal water an iron-framed dip-net is sometimes used on calm 

 •days. It is pretty hard work, and entails exposure to very 

 severe weather."' The only part ever eaten is the large muscle 

 'Avhich closes the valves. These are cut out, cleaned and sent 

 to market where they are sold by the quart. All other sofc 

 iparts are utilized for fertilizers, while the shells are valued, 

 .above all others, by Oyster-culturists for catching the Spat or 

 young Oysters. Their special fitness for this use comes from 

 their fragility and rapidity with which they fall to pieces 

 under the influence of decay and boring parasites. The young 

 •Oysters fall apart as the shells break, and overcrowding, 

 dwarfing and distortion is thus prevented. They become 

 full-grown in little over a year; those born in June of one 

 >year being full-grown by the following October and at their 

 'best in December. The flesh, while very agreeable to some 

 persons in spite of its sweetish taste, is to others not only 

 •disagreeable, but actually injurious, producing sickness. 



So much for a southern species. How does our native 

 .■Scallop compare with it in the particulars above mentioned? 



In the work by Mr. Ingersoll, quoted below, he says, — 



