THE ECONOMIC MOLLUSCA OF ACADIA. 
65 
who have tried them declare that our Scallop is quite as good 
food as is Pecten ir radians. In all probability, methods of 
capturing, preparing for market, utilization of shells, etc., of 
the latter would apply equally well to our species. 
Pecten irradians is taken on the coast of the United States 
between Cope Cod and New Jersey. It has been found within 
the limits of Acadia also, at Sable Island. But it is too rare 
to be of any commercial value with us. The annual value of 
the fishery to the United States is about $28,000 to $29,000, 
this being the price received by the fishermen for from 70,000 
to 75,000 gallons of the edible parts. The fishery gives 
employment to about 250 men and 470 women and children. 
Mr. Ingersoll, in the paper referred to below (a full and 
interesting treatment of the subject) says of the mode of 
taking them, — “ Scallops are caught by hand-dredging from 
small sail-boats. The dredges are about thirty inches in 
width, have a scraper-blade upon the bottom, and in favorable 
weather several may be thrown over from each boat. In 
shoal water an iron-framed dip-net is sometimes used on calm 
days. It is pretty hard work, and entails exposure to very 
severe weather.” The only part ever eaten is the large muscle 
which closes the valves. These are cut out, cleaned and sent 
to market where they are sold by the quart. All other soft 
parts are utilized for fertilizers, while the shells are valued, 
above all others, by Oyster-culturists for catching the Spat or 
young Oysters. Their special fitness for this use comes from 
their fragility and rapidity with which they fall to pieces 
under the influence of decay and boring parasites. The young 
Oysters fall apart as the shells -break, and overcrowding, 
dwarfing and distortion is thus prevented. They become 
full-grown in little over a year; those born in June of one 
year being full-grown by the following October and at their 
best in December. The flesh, while very agreeable to some 
persons in spite of its sweetish taste, is to others not only 
disagreeable, but actually injurious, producing sickness. 
So much for a southern species. How does our native 
•Scallop compare with it in the particulars above mentioned? 
In the work by Mr. Ingersoll, quoted below, he says, — 
