OF MASSACHUSETTS. 103 



(b) Edgartown. — The important grounds are in Cape Poge Pond 

 and in Edgartown harbor, while occasionally beds of scallops, especially 

 " seed," are found in Katama Bay. These grounds comprise an area 

 of 2,000 acres, chiefly of grass bottom. 



(c) Vineyard Haven. — The scalloping grounds of Tisbury are in 

 the harbor at Vineyard Haven. Only Vineyard Haven fishermen make 

 a business of scalloping here. The scallop grounds comprise an area 

 of 800 acres. 



The Present Industry in Massachusetts. 

 In considering the scallop industry the following points should be 

 noted: (1) It has been necessary to record as scallop area any grounds 

 where scallops have ever been found, in spite of the fact that only 

 a portion of this total area is in any one year productive. (2) The 

 boats engaged in the scallop fishery are but transitory capital, which 

 is utilized, outside of the scallop season, in other fisheries. (3) The 

 quahaug and scallop fisheries in many towns supplement each other, 

 as the same men and boats are engaged in both industries. (4) The 

 length of the season varies in the different localities. In New Bedford 

 and Fairhaven the scallops are mostly caught in a few weeks, as many 

 boats enter the business temporarily. This necessarily gives an excess 

 of invested capital and a small production. In these two towns the 

 number of scallop licenses are recorded, as showing the number of men 

 engaged in the fishery, while as a fact but a small part of these are 

 steadily engaged in the industry. 



