188 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHEEIES 



cause northern bay scaljops were reported to be scarce. These high 

 prices were not realized, whether because of high local production, 

 i^bundance of Xova Scotian and other sea scallops, a better yield of 

 northern bay scallops than was anticipated, or some other factor or 

 factors, the writer is not prepared to state. 



It would seem that proper advertising could be made so to exi)and 

 the scallop market that there would be no danger of overproduction. 

 In a country as large as this an annual output from a princi2)al pro- 

 ducing area of 75,000 

 or 100,000 gallons of 

 choice sea food should 

 not cause a " glut." 

 The demand should 

 exceed the supply, 

 even without special 

 advertising. Perhaps 

 if production were 

 not so uncertain, this 

 would be the case. 

 For the scallop, that 

 is a big "if." To 

 counteract it, a more 

 dive r s i tied m a r k e t 

 that includes many 

 inland towns (as does 

 the oyster market) 

 seems desirable. 

 Many inland towns 

 are little or no far- 

 ther away than Bos- 

 ton. Under these cir- 

 cumstances, New York 

 and Boston dealers, 

 retaining the princi- 

 pal trade, would not 

 be called upon to take 

 more scallops than the 

 demand warrants, an 

 advantage to them, 

 the shippers, the scal- 

 lop fishermen, and so, 

 in the end, to the public. It seems that this greater market can not 

 be obtained without advertising. AVith modern containers and 

 methods of packing, etc., it seems within reach. 



PRICES AND WAGES 



Fig. 111. — Kxl r:o;- ni .suiljop hou.se with >ihuvfl, !?(;illuij 

 dredgp, and opener's box. The large gashes in the 

 dredge bag are for the escape of vegetation. The box 

 protects tlie opener from the wet floor and from shells 

 and refuse cast thereon 



There i,s comparatively little information as to shippers' prices 

 for scallops. In the State report it is stated that the largest dealer 

 in 1917-18 received from $2.25 to $4.82 per gallon. Wholesaft prices 

 are said to have been as high as $5 or $5.50 in recent years. During 

 the present season (1927-28), up to mid-February, prices ranged 

 about as follows: Mediums, $1.50 to $2.25 (chiefly $1.75 to $2.25); 



