OF MASSACHUSETTS. 83 



as is generally the case, it is probably impossible for man to exterminate 

 the scallops by overfishing. Unfortunately, in certain localities in the 

 past there has been a large capture of the " seed " scallop, viz., the 

 scallop less than one year old, -which has not spawned. This has worked 

 the ruin of the scalloping in these localities. The capture of the 

 spawners for another year merely makes the next year's set so much 

 smaller, and causes a rapid decline. 



As a rule, it is hardly profitable to catch the " seed " scallop, owing 

 to its small size. But a direct relation can be established between a high 

 market price and the capture of seed. When the market price is high 

 and scallops scarce, it becomes profitable to catch the young " seed." 

 The present scallop law now defines a " seed " scaUop, and forbids its 

 capture. By protecting the " seed " scallop the State has done all that 

 at present appears expedient to insure the future of the industry ; the 

 rest lies in the hands of the towns. 



So, while the scallop has declined in certain localities, and the decline 

 has been hastened by unwise capture of the " seed " scallop, the main 

 decline of the fishery cannot be attributed to wholesale overfishing, as 

 it is impossible to overfish if only the old scallops (over one year old) 

 are taken; for, unlike most other animals, the scallop usually breeds 

 but once, and its natural period of life is unusually brief. These 

 scallops, if not taken, will die, and prove a total loss; so every fisher- 

 man should bear in mind that, as long as the " seed " scallops are pro- 

 tected, severe fishing of large scallops is not likely to injure the future 

 scaUop industry. 



The principal causes of the decline of the fishery, besides the inroads 

 of man, are best termed " adverse physical conditions." Severe winters, 

 storms, anchor frost, etc., work destruction upon the hapless scallop. 

 The " infant mortality " is especially great. 



As the scallop dies before reaching its second birthday, only one set 

 of scallops spawn in any one season. There are never two generations 

 of scallops spawning at one time. I quote from Ernest IngersoU in 

 this connection : — 



This represents a case where the generations follow one another so rapidly 

 that there are never two ranks, or generations, in condition to reproduce 

 their kind at once, except in rare individual instances, since all, or nearly 

 all, of the old ones die before the young ones have grown old enough to 

 spawn. If such a state of affairs exists, of course any sudden catastrophe, 

 such as a great and cold storm during the winter, or the covering of the 

 water where they lie for a long period with a sheet of ice, happening 

 to Mil all the tender young (and old ones, too, often) in a particular dis- 

 trict, will exterminate the breed there; since, even if the older and tougher 

 ones survive this shock, they will not live long enough, or at any rate, 

 will be unable to spawn again, and so start a new generation.' 



^ E. IngersoU, "The Scallop Fishery," United States Fish Commission report, 1881. 



