102 THE MOLI.USK FISHERIES 



lops were shipped to the New York and Boston markets, although the 

 greater part of the catch went to New York. 



The scallops taken at Dennisport are large, opening 3 quarts to 

 the bushel. At West Dennis, where the fishing is done in the shallow 

 water, the scallops are somewhat smaller, yielding only 2% quarts to 

 the bushel. 



During the month of November large quantities of scallops were 

 blown ashore at Dennisport, and it is said that as many as 72 bushels 

 were gathered by one man in a day. 



Capital invested. 

 Value of boats: — 



Sail $1,230 



Power, 3,000 



Dories, 180 



Total, $4,410 



Value of gear : — 



Boat, 350 



Dory, 18 



Total, $868 



Permits are required for scalloping, but are issued free of charge 

 by the selectmen. Dennis and Yarmouth have common scallop fishery 

 rights, the town scallop regulation reading as follows : — 



All persons other than the inhabitants of the towns of Dennis and Yar- 

 mouth are prohibited from taking scallops from the shores and waters of 

 the town of Yarmouth excepting for their family use, and in no case without 

 a permit. 



During the season of 1904-05 there existed ofE Dennisport one of 

 the largest beds of scallops ever known in Massachusetts. Not only 

 was it extensive, but the scallops were very numerous. An enormous 

 yield was the result, affording great profit to a large number of seal- 

 lopers, and bringing into the town thousands of dollars. It was stated 

 by the scallopers that when the scalloping ceased because of the severe 

 winter and ice the number of scallops appeared in no way diminished. 

 During the season the catch averaged over 25 bushels per boat. Pros- 

 pects looked good for the following season, as the fishermen expected 

 the scallops to live until the next year. Unfortunately, the life of a 

 scallop is less than two years, and before spring practically the whole 

 of this large bed was dead, — a heavy loss to the fishing interests of 

 the town and of the State. 



In cases like this the exclusion of scallopers from the neighboring 

 towns, through the present system of town laws, has resulted in severe 



