580 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



apiece income all round for each season. The fleet averages 100 bushels (in shell) n day, or 

 18,000 for the past season, each of which will produce half a gallon of meats on the average, or 

 9,000 gallons in all. The price for opening was formerly 25 cents a gallon ; but it came down in 1879 

 to 15 cents and in 1880 to 12 cents, but if prices are good it is expected to go back to 15 cents. 

 The total earned by the openers at New Suffolk (almost wholly women and children) last season, 

 was $1,080; divided among 110, this gives each one hardly $10, but of course the distribution was 

 far from equal. The average earnings of the 70 fishermen amounted to $97.40. These figures 

 closely represent the average of the whole $19,491 received by the shore people for the scallops 

 sold. 



The " rims " or refuse, which was formerly sold at $1 per barrel to the fertilizer factories, is 

 now usually retained by each proprietor for his own laud. Some of the scallop-boats are used in 

 the clam trade during the " off season." 



NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHWARD. Scallops are taken to a very small extent at different points 

 on the coast of New Jersey and southward, but nowhere enter into trade, so far as I can learn, 

 except at Morehead City, N. C., there being a large bed of them in Bogue Sound, just opposite that 

 town. Fishermen there have long taken them for local use and have shipped a few to the nearer 

 northern markets from time to time. In the winter of 1876-'77 the business reached its height and 

 several thousand gallons were sent north, a few going as far as Philadelphia and New York. Since 

 this date few have been shipped and the supply is consumed locally. 



The height of the season is from December to February 15, though they are abundant during 

 the entire year. In winter fifteen or twenty men and boys often engage in this fishery, while five 

 or six continue the business during the summer months. An average catch is from 4 to 6 bushels 

 at a tide, the fishermen wading for them on the grassy shoals, that are nearly dry at low water. 

 Ten thousand bushels would probably be a high estimate of the total yearly crop, opening, say, 

 7,500 gallons. Formerly 60 cents a gallon was the price, but in 1880 they brought only 40 cents. 

 The supply is regulated wholly by the demand, and if a market could be found for them at good 

 prices a considerable quantity could be obtained. 



SCALLOPS IN CALIFORNIA. The scallop occurs on the southern coast of California, in a species 

 resembling Pecten irradians. Prof. D. S. Jordan writes me that it is very abundant about Wilming- 

 ton in the lagoons, where it is caught by any one inclined to go for it, and sells in Wilmington at 

 25 to 50 cents a bucket. It is liked by the people, but there is no regular market or trade. It is 

 now several years since Dr. R. E. C. Stearns expressed his surprise that the San Diego scallop had 

 not been introduced into the San Francisco markets, and prophesied that it soon would be. 



STATISTICS OF SCALLOP FISHERIES OF THE ATLANTIC STATES. 



Statistics furnished from New York and Brooklyn give an idea of the consumption, and are 

 repeated below. It is said that in the New York markets Rhode Island scallops bring better prices 

 than Long Island ones. " New York dealers tell me," says Mather, " that the former are larger, 

 and that it is the custom of the Long Island men to wash their scallops too much in fresh water, 

 which causes them to swell and look good and to measure more, but that they shrink up small 

 when cooked. Three gallons of open scallops placed in fresh water overnight will swell to 4 gallons 

 by morning. Salt water does not swell them." 



Mr. Lamphier reports that in 1880 there were used in Fulton market alone 29,499 gallons, and 

 in Brooklyn and other suburbs 25,501 gallons more, making 55,000 gallons in all. 



