OF MASSACHUSETTS. 105 



By vote of the town, the season for several years has been open one 

 month later than the State season. Shellfish permits costing $2 are 

 required of every sealloper. The daily catch for one man is restricted 

 to 25 bushels. 



Edgartown was one of the pioneer towns in the State in the scallop 

 fishery, and as early as 1875 scallops were shipped to the market. The 

 industry has maintained a steady supply, and has not shown the gi'eat 

 variation of the Cape and Buzzards Bay fisheries. This is due per- 

 chance to the natural conditions, which render favorable the mainte- 

 nance of an extensive industry. 



The last four seasons have been very successful, as when scallops 

 were scarce the increased price more than made up for the diminished 

 supply. The 1904-05 season was favorable, but, owing to the severe 

 winter, fishing ceased about January 1, although scallops were plentiful 

 both in Cape Poge Pond and Edgartown harbor. In 1905-06 scallops 

 were found only in Cape Poge Pond, as the previous severe winter 

 had killed all the harbor " seed." This season was most successful, as 

 Nantucket and Edgartown, owing to the scarcity of scallops in other 

 localities, received very high market prices. Scallops were more abun- 

 dant in 1906-07, but the lower prices made the industry less prosperous 

 than in the previous season. 



Fairhaven. 



Fairhaven possesses, with New Bedford, the scalloping grounds of 

 the Acushnet River, and in addition a much larger territory around 

 Sconticut Neck and West Island. The scalloping territory comprises 

 about 2,500 acres, most of which is unproductive or productive only at 

 intervals. 



The town charges $1 for the license to each sealloper. Seventy-three 

 licenses were issued in 1906-07. This is a larger number than has been 

 issued in recent years. The highest number ever issued was 80. 



The capital invested is transitory, for the season, as in New Bedford, 

 usually lasts only three weeks. Possibly $14,000 is invested in this way 

 in boats and gear. 



In a good season as high as 2,000 gallons have been shipped in a 

 week. The average season hardly produces this amount in the whole 

 three weeks. In the season of 1907-08, 1,300 gallons were shipped. 

 Some years ago the starfish was a source of damage to the fishery, but 

 of late years it has attracted little notice. 



