190 U. S. BUEEAU OP FISHERIES 



of scallops an hour, or possibly a little more, if they are large. These 

 may yield as much as a gallon per bushel, or only 21/2 pints, possibly 

 even less. The demand for hired shuckers occurs principally early 

 in the season when catches are large, and from the dredgers, who 

 make much larger catches than do the rakers. At this time a bushel 

 yields less than it does later in the season. The average size of 

 scallops taken by dredgers is small, so that, even if they give a good 

 yield per bushel, many must be opened in order to make a gallon. 

 Therefore, the role of the professional shucker can scarcely be k well- 

 paying one; although he or she might make $5 a day. probably $2 

 to $3 would be more representative. 



LEGAL REGULATION OF THE FISHERY 



The act of 1915, chapter 85, established the Fisheries Commission 

 Board, placing upon it not only the usual responsibility for law en- 

 forcement but also the unusual duty of fisheries regulation, making 

 it virtually a fisheries legislature. In 1917 scallo ) regulation was 

 initiated both by act of the assembly and by rule of the board. The 

 assembly provided for a dealer's license fee of $5, an individual 

 scallop fisherman's fee of $1, and a dealer's tax of 10 cents per gallon 

 of scallops (]ater reduced to 5 cents a gallon, effective December, 

 1922). In July, 1917, the board passed a rule providing for a 

 closed season on taking scallops (except for local consumption) 

 from April 15 to December 1, making it obligatory to return to 

 the water immediately all scallops measuring less than 2 inches 

 from hinge to '' mouth," forbidding the soaking or swelling of 

 scallops or the selling or offering for sale of soaked scallops, and 

 restricting the number of dredges per boat and man. In October, 

 1919, the board further regulated the fishery by prohibiting dredg- 

 ing or tonging in an area extending from Spooners Point, in Bogue 

 Sound, to the east end of Carrot Island, in Beaufort Harbor. From 

 1922 to 1924 an additional closed season during the last 15 daj^s in 

 December was put into effect. 



In the summer of 1925, because of the general great scarcity of 

 scallops, the writer advised that the usual taking of scallops for 

 local consumption be prohibited. Accordingly, this was done, and 

 an indefinite closed season was established. In January, 1926, on 

 the further advice of the writer, the season was opened for a short 

 period, sufficient for harvesting the crop of market scallops. The 

 next scallop-fishing season opened on January 3, 1927. and closed 

 on April 15. The present season opened December 1. 1927, and 

 closed May 1, 1928. 



CONSERVATION 



Fisheries conservation may be either active or regulatory. Regu- 

 latory conservation seeks to conserve by restricting the season, es- 

 tablishing size limits, specifying type or size of gear, and creating 

 fishery zones. Probably there are few important fisheries that do 

 not have and need regulation. Regulatory conservation should be 

 based on knowledge of the biology of the species involved and of 

 practical fisheries considerations. Active conservation seeks to coun- 



