108 THE SCALLOP FISHERY 



in other localities after heavy gales wagons can be driven to the beach 

 and loaded with the scallops which have been blown ashore. 



(6) Scoop Nets- ^ The hand method was not rapid enough for the 

 enterprising scaUopers, and the next step in the industry was the use 

 of scoop nets, about 8 inches in diameter, by which the scallops could 

 be picked up in the water. These nets were attached to poles of vari- 

 ous lengths, suitable to the depth of water. " This method," writes 

 Ingersoll (8), "was speedily condemned, however, because it could be 

 employed only where scallops are a foot thick and inches in length, 

 as one fisherman expressed it." 



(c) The Pusher. — The next invention was the so-called " pusher." 

 The " pusher " consists of a wooden pole from 8 to 9 feet long, at- 

 tached to a rectangular iron frame 3 by 1^2 feet, upon which is fitted 

 a netting bag 3 feet in depth. The scalloper, wading on the flats 

 at low tide, gathers the scallops by shoving the "pusher" among the 

 eel grass. When the bag is full, the contents are emptied into the dory 

 and the process repeated. The scaUopers who use the " pusher " go 

 in dories, which are taken to the various parts of the scalloping ground 

 and moved whenever the immediate locality is exhausted. This method 

 is in use to-day, but is applicable only to shallow flats, and can be 

 worked only at low tide, where dredging is impossible. It is hard 

 work, and not as profitable as the better method of dredging. This 

 method of scalloping is used chiefly at Chatham, Dennis and Yar- 

 mouth; occasionally at Nantucket and other towns. 



(d) Dredging. — The greater part of the scallop catch is taken by 

 dredging, which is the most universal as well as the most profitable 

 method. The dredge, commonly pronounced " drudge," consists of 

 an iron framework about 3 by 1% feet, with a netting bag attached, 

 which will hold from one to two bushels of scallops. Catboats, carry- 

 ing from 6 to 10 dredges, are used for this method of scalloping. These 

 boats, with several "reefs," cross the scallop grounds pulling the 

 dredges, which hold the boat steady in her course. A single run with 

 all the dredges overboard is called a " drift." The contents of all 

 the dredges is said to be the result or catch of the " drift." 



When the dredges are hauled in they are emptied on what is known 

 as a culling board. This board runs the width of the boat, projecting 

 slightly on both sides. It is 3 feet wide, and has a guide 3 inches 

 high along each side, leaving the ends open. The scallops are then 

 separated from the rubbish, such as seaweed, shells, mud, etc., while 

 the refuse and seed scallops are thrown overboard by merely pushing 

 them off the end of the board. Each catch is culled out while the dredges 

 are being pulled along on the back " drift," and the board is again 

 clear for the next catch. The cuUed scallops are first put in buckets 

 and later transferred either to bushel bags or dumped into the cockpit 

 of the boat. 



