THE SCALLOP FISHERY. 571 



lops and the same is true of New York Harbor, the Sandy Hook region, and much of the New 

 Jersey coast. At Greenwich, Conn., I was told that where ten or fifteen years ago one could fill 

 a dredge in a few rods, and a boat would take 50 to 100 bushels a day, now only about 10 

 bushels a day was the average catch. From one-half to three-fourths of the dredgeful will provo 

 trash. At Hyannis, Mass., they said four years ago that the scallops were disappearing and 

 attributed it to the fact that in culling, the fishermen would not throw back the little ones. Many 

 similar statements for other localities might be given. The irregularity of the present supply is 

 also pointed out. " Some seasons the mollusks are much larger and finer than others. Thus this 

 year they have been small. Last year they were twice the size." That is a report from Peconic, 

 L. I. In 1879 an immense area of young growth was discovered about Crawford's Island, in 

 Narragansett Bay; yet all died off in an incomprehensible manner before fall. Speaking of this 

 subject to Mr. Kumlien, Mr. Wilson remarked : " When they first began catching scallops about 

 twenty years ago in Cowesett Bay there were a hundred bushels to one. I can give no theory 

 for their increase and decrease. One year there may be hardly any at all, and the next year a 

 great plenty. I think the severity of the winter temperature has much to do with it. The year 

 1879 was a poor season, but this season (1880) young scallops are more plenty than ever before 

 known." 



2. APPARATUS AND METHODS OF CAPTURE. 



The method of catching scallops everywhere pursued at present is by dredging. This would 

 seem to be the only practicable way, and has been proved so, but early accounts of the fishing 

 show that scoop-nets, usually on the end of long poles, were formerly used. This was speedily 

 condemned, however, because it could be employed only where " scallops are a foot thick and 

 miles in length," as one fisherman expressed it. 



Following this came the invention of the small, triangular dredge, intended to be hauled astern 

 of either a row-boat or sailing craft. I have never heard of any steam dredging for scallops. 

 The ordinary scallop dredge holds from one to two bushels, but varies somewhat in form at differ- 

 ent points along the coast. That in use in Buzzard's Bay, according to Mr. W. A. Wilcox, consists 

 of an oval iron frame 3 feet long. In front (or underneath) it is wire-netted but behind (above) is 

 made of twine. Small sail-boats (dories) with a crew of two men fish with from one to twelve of 

 these dredges over at once, sailing with just enough " sheet" to allow a slow headway. As soon 

 as a dredge is felt to be full they " luff up " and haul it in, then empty and go on. If the wind is 

 unfavorable one man will row while the other attends to the dredge. 



In Narragansett Bay sail-boats, generally cat-rigged, are used, and the dredges are of special 

 construction, in two shapes. Mr. Ludwig Kumlien reports : 



"The dredge for a soft bottom differs from the other in having the 'blade' adjusted to swing 

 in the 'eyes' of the arms in order to prevent its sinking into the mud. This is called the 'kettle- 

 bail ' style of dredge. The blade will fly up instead of digging into the bottom when undue press- 

 ure is exerted upon it. 



" For a rocky bottom a dredge is used which has the blade immovably fastened to the arms; 

 otherwise it does not differ from the ' kettle- bail ' and it is known as a ' scraper.' 



" In calm weather a small iron-framed dip-net, on a long pole, is employed in shoal water. 



" The dredges are simply dragged by the boats until they are full. The large boats haul six 

 to eight at a time ; the smaller ones three, four, or five." 



The number of dredges thrown out at once depends on the strength of the wind. The boat 



