OF MASSACHUSETTS. 97 



in most years both methods are in use. The dredge most commonly 

 used is the " scraper/' although the Chatham style is found here. Six 

 to nine are carried by each boat. 



Hyannis claims the distinction of shipping the first Cape Cod scallops 

 to market. This was in 1874, and was the start of a considerable in- 

 dustry which employed 80 men. There has been more or less scalloping 

 ever since that time. Ernest Ingersoll, in his report on the scallop 

 fishery of the United States, in 1880, says in reference to scallop fishing 

 at Hyannis from 1876 to 1878 : - 



The most northerly locality at which such a fishery exists, as far as I 

 am informed, is at Hyannis, Mass., and during the winter of 1877 many 

 persons of all ages and conditions were employed in it there. One firm 

 fitted up a large house expressly for the business, and employed a large 

 number of openers. Skiffs, cat-rigged yawl boats, dories and punts, 200 

 in number, and of every size, shape, form and color, were used; most 

 of them were flat bottomed, shaped like a flatiron, and therefore very 

 " tender " when afloat. Each boat carried two dredges, locally termed 

 " drags." In that year, according to Mr. F. W. True, each of the 200 boats 

 averaged 120 bushels, or 100 gallons, during the season, which would give 

 a total of 24,000 bushels, or 20,000 gallons for the fleet. The scallops were 

 sent to New York and also to Boston, and an average price of $5 per half- 

 barrel was received. In 1876 the price was $7, and in 1878 only $3.50. 

 Further inquiries show that this spurt at Hyannis had no precedent, and 

 has completely died away, so that at present there is no catch there, or at 

 least no shipments. 



The 1904-05 fishery was very successful, while the season of 1905-06 

 proved the reverse. The production for 1905-03 was 1,350 gallons, 

 valued at $3,200; while the 1906-07 season furnished 1,000 gallons, 

 worth $2,000. The following notes, made in November, 1905, give the 

 situatiqn of the industry for that year : 



The scalloping areas this season have been at Squaw's Island and in 

 Lewis Bay, 'the first locality furnishing the better fishing. By the middle 

 of November both areas were practically exhausted and the season over. 

 The production to November 12 was 900 gallons. After that time the 

 shipments to the Boston and New York markets were small and irregu- 

 lar, in spite of the high price of $3 to $3.50 per gallon. 



Cotuit. In the report of Mr. Ingersoll we find no mention of scal- 

 loping at Cotuit. Either there was none in 1879, or it was too small 

 to be of any importance. To-day the scalloping is of slight importance, 

 and practically all is used for home trade. Undoubtedly there has been 

 but little change in the past twenty-five years. Side by side with the 

 pigmy scallop industry has grown the oyster industry, which has made 

 Cotuit famous. Undoubtedly the latter has sapped the strength of the 

 former by encroaching on its area; but it has always been for the best 

 interests of the people, as the oyster industry here is far more valuable 

 than the scallop fishery. 



