626 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



PECTEN IRRADIANS 



Scallop 



This peculiar form does not have so wide a distribution as either 

 Venus or My a. After attaining a certain size, M y a digs deep 

 into the ground, and never removes itself from its burrow. Venus 

 also covers its body in the sand or mud, though not deeply, and is 

 able to creep on the bottom. But Pecten is a form which is able 

 to swim by an opening and closing movement of the shell. This 

 method of locomotion is not a skilful one, but is effectual, for the 

 creature is able, in time, to compass considerable distances in its 

 migrations. Pecten is a form which comes and goes, but it seems 

 to choose definite localities for its resting places. These are usually 

 small and more or less sheltered bays, where the creatures lie on the 

 bottom, sometimes crowded together in great numbers, at other 

 times much scattered. They may stay in one region for many 

 months, and are taken from September till late in the winter. 



The greater number of these forms are dredged along the shores 

 of Peconic and Gardiners bays. A few are still taken in the bays 

 on the sound. From the vicinity of Riverhead, nearly to Montauk, 

 immense numbers of scallops are taken every year. There are 

 probably few regions on the coast which compare with this in the 

 richness of its supply of food mollusks. On account of the peculiar 

 habits of the scallop, the catch in any single locality is always some- 

 what uncertain. Near Napeague harbor, for instance, for several 

 years past the supply has been short, but during September of the 

 present year (1900), dredgers who had been at work for several 

 days reported unusually large catches. Marketmen seem to believe 

 that the supply of scallops here is not diminishing. It was ascer- 

 tained, however, that at many points more men than formerly had 

 become engaged in the business of dredging. While the number of 

 scallops sent to market may not be less, the beds are taxed more 

 severely. Many of the older dredgers profess to believe that ex- 

 cessive dredging is already making a great difference in the average 

 number of scallops taken each year. 



To very many the scallop is the most highly prized of all 

 mollusks, and it is to be hoped that it will long be spared. It must 



