194 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHEEIES 



earlier, December 15 would be an appreciably better date than Decem- 

 ber 1. If the season is to open early in December, it would be ad- 

 A'antageoiis for ))iiri)()ses of conservation and probably of marketing 

 to restrict scallop fishino; to two or even one day per week. Later, for 

 effective marketing and good average employment, it would be desir- 

 able to limit the catch while scallops are abundant, presumably by 

 regulating the number of open days. 



Unless protection be based largely on a minimum-size limit (a very 

 difficult matter because of variations in size between individual 

 scallops and between the scallops of various areas and because of the 

 problems of enforcement), the s:allop-tishing season should be closed 

 sufficiently early to prevent the marketing of the young scallops. 

 This is something that can not be determined definitely from a 

 knowledge of scallop growth or other aspects of scallop biolog}^ 

 The human factor enters into the problem. To learn something of 

 this, the writer examined commercial catches early and late in April 

 and has found no evidence of appreciable utilization of yovmg 

 scallops. It therefore seems that the extension of the open season 

 through April is not dangerous. 



Due vigilance should be exercised by officials having regulatory 

 power. Thus, if either the crop of market scallops or of young is 

 very small, the season should not be opened, regardless of immediate 

 financial loss, till observation shows that spawning has been com- 

 pleted. If at any time there seems danger of serious destruction of 

 the young, the season should be closed early, even though many 

 marketable scallops would thereby be left. 



From the conservation standpoint, summer scallop fishing is 

 decidedly dangerous to the welfare of the fishery. It results in 

 the destruction of scallops before they have spawned to an important 

 extent and is an attack upon the only j^ear class present in any 

 abundance. The small size and general lack of " fatness " of the 

 summer scallop means that relatively large numbers are needed to 

 provide a given bulk of meats. A great increase in *•' total yield " 

 is prevented. At present, the industry is sustaining this harmful 

 practice. If the region increases in popularity as a summer resort, 

 the drain may become too great. AVhether this happens or not, if 

 scallops become scarce, summer fishing should be stopped entirely. 



It can scarcely be emphasized too much that scallops of not more 

 than 2-year classes are present in cpiantity at one time and that 

 if these are destroyed in any region the race of scallops in that region 

 is obliterated. 



It is recommended that a regulation be put in force closing the 

 scallop-fishing season from some time in the spring (May 1 seems 

 not too late) until January 1. A close watch should be kept on scal- 

 lop conditions in order that emergency measures may be adopted 

 when 'necessary. If the season is opened in December, the rate of 

 catch during tliis month should be kept low. preferably by limiting 

 the number of open days to two or even one day a week. 



XEAV INLETS 



Probably no topic arouses more interest among scallop fishermen 

 than that of new inlets. The Avriter believes that the creation of new 



