OF MASSACHUSETTS. 101 



small, extending over an irregular strip of 100 acres. The bottom is 

 mostly muddy, and covered with patches of eel grass. All the rest of 

 the bay, where the bottom is more suited for oyster culture, is taken up 

 by grants. This scalloping area, although small, is free to the scallopers 

 of Osterville, Cotuit, Marston's Mills and Hyannis, and even where 

 heavily set it is soon fished out. The scallop territory near Hyannis 

 comprises 2,700 acres, in the following localities: (1) Lewis Bay; (2) 

 near Squaw's Island; (3) Hyannisport harbor; and (4) the shore 

 waters. At Hyannisport small scallops are taken with " pushers " in the 

 shallow water, while large scallops are taken by dredging in the other 

 three localities. Scallops are found in different parts and in varying 

 abundance each year. 



(/) Mashpee. — The scallop territory of Mashpee lies in the Poppo- 

 nesset River and Bay, comprising at most 200 acres. For the last eight 

 years there has been no scallop industry in the town. A few scallops 

 are occasionally gathered for home consumption. 



Buzzard's Bay. — The third section comprises the waters at the head 

 of Buzzard's Bay, the most protected and perhaps the most favorably 

 situated of the scalloping localities in respect to natural conditions. 

 The warmth and excellent circulation of the water as it courses in and 

 out of the numerous little bays and inlets are favorable to rapid growth, 

 and render possible the production of the large scallop, averaging 2.73 

 . inches, found in this section. The medium rise and fall of the tide 

 (about 4 feet) and the eel-grass bottom give the scallops abundant pro- 

 tection in contrast to the exposed situation in other localities. In spite 

 of these favorable surroundings great numbers of scallops perish from 

 the severe winters and from the attacks of their natural enemy, the 

 starfish. For seven years previous to the season of 1907-08 the scallop 

 fishery had been a failure in these waters, said to have been due to the 

 inroads of this pest, but since that date it has again become of im- 

 portance. The scalloping territory comprises 11,100 acres and is situ- 

 ated in the towns of New Bedford, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, Marion, 

 Wareham, Bourne and Falmouth. The fishing is carried on almost 

 wholly by dredging. 



(a) New Bedford. — The scallop area comprises approximately 400 

 acres, principally in the Acushnet River and Clark's Cove. 



(&) Fairhaven. — This town shares with New Bedford the scalloping 

 grounds of the Acushnet River, and has in addition a much larger terri- 

 tory around Sconticut Neck and West Island. The grounds comprise 

 about 2,500 acres, most of which is unproductive or productive only at 

 intervals. 



(c) Mattapoisett. — The scallop territory, comprising an area of 

 1,200 acres, much of which is open and exposed, is in general confined 

 to the following localities: Nasketucket Bay, Brant Bay, Brant Island 

 Cove, Mattapoisett harbor. Pine Neck Cove and Aucoot Cove. 



