OF MASSACHUSETTS. 109 



Dredging is the only method of scalloping used in Mattapoisett. 

 Small cat boats and a few power boats are employed in the fishery. 

 The " roller " dredge is the most popular style with the Mattapoisett 

 scallopers, who claim that on the uneven bottom this dredge is the most 

 successful. This town is the only locality in the State where this kind 

 of dredge is used. The cost of a dredge completely rigged with rope, 

 which is often 15 fathoms long, is $4.50, and 8 to 10 dredges are used 

 for each boat. 



During the 1907-08 season the production was 5,000 gallons, valued 

 at $6,550. These were mostly marketed at New Bedford, where they 

 were purchased unsoaked by the New Bedford Fish Company. At the 

 first part of the season it was not uncommon for a boat to catch 25 

 bushels per day, but as the season progressed the size of the catch 

 gradually diminished. The scallops were large, opening 3 quarts to 

 the bushel. 



CAPITAL INVESTED. 



Value of boats, $6,900 



Value of gear, 760 



Total, $7,660 



The scallop industry at Mattapoisett, though once important, was 

 extinct for several years. The present season has shown a revival, and 

 the industry has again assumed a commercial value. 



Nantucket. 



Nantucket is one of the leading towns of the State in the scallop 

 fishery. The grounds lie both in Nantucket harbor and in Maddequet 

 harbor on the west end of the island. The former of these is the larger 

 and more important, as the fishery is near the town. When the 

 scallops, become scarce in Nantucket harbor, the scallopers adjourn 

 to the fresher beds of Maddequet. Nantucket harbor contains approxi- 

 mately 3,000 acres of scallop territory; Maddequet and Muskeget, 1,500 

 acres. 



Practically all the scalloping is done by dredging from sail boats, 

 employing about 99 men in the fishery. The dredges are of the " slider " 

 and the " scraper " types, the iron frames of which cost $1.50 and the 

 netting bags 30 cents. From 6 to 10 of these are used per boat, and 

 are dragged by 7 fathoms of 15-thread rope. Five regular openers are 

 hired, who receive from 20 to 25 cents per gallon, according to the size 

 of the scallops. A few scallops are taken in the shallow water by 

 the dory fishermen with " pushers," which are locally known as " scoops." 

 These differ from the Cape Cod " pusher," being more rounded and 

 smaller in size. 



