GIANT SCALLOP FISHERY OP MAINE. 
331 
Table showing, by weight, the proportion of ivatery and nutrient constituents of certain molluslcs. 
[Adapted from Atwater.*] 
Constituents. 
Scallop. t 
Oyster.; 
Long 
clam.; 
Round 
clarn.J 
Mussel 
(My Ulus 
edulis).X 
Per cent. 
Per cent. 
Per cent 
Per cent. 
Per cent. 
Water 
80.3 
87. 3 
85. 9 
86.2 
84.2 
Nutrients or solids 
19.7 
12.7 
14.1 
13.8 
16.8 
Protein 
14.7 
6.0 
8.5 
6.6 
8.7 
Fats 
0.2 
1.2 
1.0 
0.4 
1. 1 
Carbo-hydrates 
3.4 
3.5 
2.0 
4.2 
4. 1 
Minerals 
1.4 
2.0 
2.6 
2.6 
1. 9 
♦ See Report TT. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, 1883, p. 443. 
t Edible portion, i. e., adductor muscle, 
t Shell contents. 
15.-ON THE USE OF SCALLOPS FOR BAIT. 
The bait question on the New England coast has ever been an important one, and 
of late years it has attracted the attention and demanded the consideration not only 
of those directly interested in the prosecution of the commercial fisheries, but also of 
the lawgivers and diplomats of the land. Whatever, therefore, may be done to call 
attention to possible new sources of supply, to be utilized in periods of scarcity of the 
regular bait products, seems worthy of presentation. 
This preface brings us to a consideration of the use ot scallops as possible substi- 
tutes for or coequals with the soft clams {Mya arenaria) as bait in the hand-line and 
trawl fisheries. It may be said at the outset that experiments with scallops have not 
as yet been sufficiently complete or exhaustive to decide what their real value is or 
just how high a place they are destined to occupy in the estimation of the fishermen. 
Even if it be finally ascertained that they are inferior to clams, their possible utility 
* should be remembered ; and there will no doubt be times in the history of many fishing 
localities when a supply of fresh or salt scallop bait will not be wholly worthless. 
One of the earliest specimens of giant scallops that reached the hands of the con- 
chologist was obtained from the stomach of a codfish.* Since then, scallops have been 
repeatedly found in the stomachs of cod and other marine species usually known under 
the general name of “ ground fish.” From this circumstance the suggestion no doubt 
arose of the probable value of the mollusk as a bait; it does not appear, however, that 
anything more than irregular or spasmodic attempts have been made to employ it, 
owing possibly to prejudice, but chiefly to a misapprehension of its value. 
A strong reason for the use of the scallop for bait lies in the fact that the portion 
of the animal which can be so utilized is now' considered valueless. As is well known, 
only the muscular portion of the meat is marketable for food, and the “ skirts ” or 
“rims” are regarded as a waste product by the fishermen and consequently thrown 
away. This waste is enormous, amounting in 1889 to not less than 30,000 gallons. 
When it is considered that this figure represents above 1,500 barrels of salt bait, 
which could have been secured for but little more than the cost of the barrels and 
salt, the great actual loss to the fishermen may be appreciated, especially in view of 
the probable value and efficacy of this kind of bait. 
* Under tke name of P.fuscus, Linsley, in 184.5, described this species of scallop from a specimen 
taken from the stomach of a cod caught at Stouiugton, Conn. See synonymy, in foot-note, page 314, 
of this paper. 
