OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



97 



Natural Conditions. 



CHAPTER VI. THE INDUSTRY. 



While a description of the natural conditions of the beds, the methods 

 of capture and the preparation of the scallop for market may prove of 

 slight information to the fisherman, the general public has little knowl- 

 edge of the methods used in the fishery. For this reason the following 

 pages are primarily intended for the average reader, although different 

 methods are employed in the various parts of the coast, and often the 

 scallop fishermen in one locality are only familiar with the methods used 

 in their immediate vicinity. In such cases information as to methods in 

 other localities as regards implements, boats, dredges, etc., is an im- 

 portant factor in the development of the industry, and since the aim of 

 this report is the improvement of the scallop fishery, no apology is 

 necessary for the repetition of special parts of the Mollusk Report 

 of 1909. 



The Fishing Grounds. 



Scalloping territory is a variable asset, as the beds are constantly 

 changing according to the location of the yearly sets, and a description 

 of the grounds for any reason may vary from preceding or succeeding 

 periods. In a general way the location and distribution of the scallop 

 beds are shown on the accompanying map (Fig. 78). For greater detail 

 the reader is referred to the Mollusk Report of 1909. 



The scalloping territory, which is entirely confined to southeastern 

 Massachusetts, can be separated into four main divisions: (1) the north 

 side of Cape Cod; (2) the south side of Cape Cod; (3) Buzzard's Bay; 

 (4) the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. 



