92 



THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



and containing miniature photogTapliic views have been put on the 

 market. Three firms near Boston make a business of this, and use only 

 the lower or bright valve of the scallop. Certain scaUopers furnish 

 these scallop sheUs, cleaned of meat, at the rate of $6 per barrel; and, 

 though it takes considerable time to separate the shells when opening, 

 the excellent price makes this new industry pay. The question of the 

 future is to find new and more important uses for our waste sea prod- 

 ucts. Some day what is now waste in the scallop industry may be 

 utilized for the benefit of the pubUe. 



V. Food Value. — As a food the scallop stands ahead of all the 

 other sheUflsh, containing much more nourishment than the oyster. The 

 following figures are from the tables of Professor Atwater, rearranged 

 by C. F. Langworthy : ^ — 



The Laws. 



The State laws regulating the fishery were made for the benefit of 

 the industry and for the preservation of the " seed " scallop, which 

 is the only requirement necessary for insuring the future supply. 



Each town has charge over its scallop fishery, under the general 

 shellfish act of 1880, which entrusted all regulation of the shellfisheries 

 to the selectmen of the towns. The town laws governing the scallop 

 fishery are by far the most satisfactory of the sheUflsh laws of the 

 towns. Although in many respects beneficial, they have certain dis- 

 advantages. 



1 United States Depaitment of Agriculture, Farmers' Bulletin 85, 1898. 



