98 



THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



The grounds of Cotuit are quite 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 OstervUle, Cotuit, Marston's 

 Mills and Hyannis, and even where heavily set it is soon fished out. 



In the years previous to 1904^05 exceptionally fine scalloping had 

 been reported by the fishermen. The season of 1904r-05 was excep- 

 tionally poor, and in 1905-06 hardly any scallops were obtainable. In 

 1907 scalloping began October 1, and by December 15 all the boats 

 were hauled up, as the scallops became too scarce for profitable fishing. 

 Dredging is the only important method employed in the Cotuit fishery, 

 although a few scallops were picked up on the flats. 



A tovpn law forbidding the capture of scallops for market before 

 December 1 was passed in 1899. This, nevertheless, permitted any resi- 

 dent of Barnstable, between October 1 and December 1, to catch scallops 

 for his family use, and for this reason could never be strictly enforced. 

 In 1907 this law was repealed, as many believed that it was detrimental 

 rather than helpful to the Cotuit interests, as it gave the Hyannis 

 scallopers, after they had fished for two months in Hyannis Bay, the 

 cream of the Cotuit fishery. 



Bourne. 



The villages of Buzzards Bay, Monument Beach and Cataumet share 

 the scallop fishery of the town of Bourne, and have had during 1907-08 

 a successful season for the first time in eight years. 



The available scallop territory of the town covers approximately 

 3,000 acres, extending from Buttermilk Bay along the whole coast of 

 the town to Cataumet. 



The fishing is mostly done by dredging with cat boats, carrying from 

 six to ten dredges per boat, although a few scallopers dredge with power. 

 The dredges are generally of the " scraper ", type, with the chain bot- 

 tom, similar to the dredges used at Edgartown. The scallopers both 

 open their own catch and hire openers to assist them. Thirty boats, 

 8 carrying 2 men, and 22 with 1 man, totalling 38 men, are employed 

 in the scallop fishery. 



