332 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
A number of isolated trials with both fresh and salt scallops have come to the 
notice of the writer. The consensus of opinion seems to be that in a fresh condition 
they are quite as attractive as clams. When salted, however, there is a difference of 
sentiment, the burden of the testimony being that in the bank fisheries they are some- 
what inferior to clams, although until more conclusive experiments are made the mat- 
ter must be regarded as subjudice. The information received regarding the use of 
scallops in the shore fisheries is that they have proved fully as good as clams when 
given an impartial trial. 
Mr. J. M. Vogell, of Oastine, states that in 1887 a fisherman in that vicinity took 
5 barrels of scallop bait on a trip, but he failed to make a satisfactory fare, and no 
one in that region has employed the mollusk since that time. 
At Mount Desert Island, pickled scallops have been sparingly used on a number 
of occasions during recent years in the line fisheries and are reported to have given as 
good results as clams. 
There seems to be no reason why the scallop fishermen, when shucking these 
bivalves, should not preserve that portion of the animal which is now discarded, fol- 
lowing the same method in curing it that is now pursued in the clam bait-fishery. At a 
comparatively small outlay for salt and barrels, and with practically no loss of time, 
what is believed to be a really valuable salt bait could be put on the market and the 
fishermen would be financially benefited to the extent of perhaps $5,000 or $7,000 
annually. 
16.— UTILIZATION OF THE SHELLS. 
The beauty of the scallop shells has secured for them a demand that is not as yet 
very extensive, but appears to be yearly increasing. They are in considerable favor 
with artists, who paint marine and other views on the smooth interior; and they are 
also employed in the making of pincushions and other similar ornaments. The chief 
market at the present time is Bar Harbor, where, in addition to the foregoing uses, 
the Indians and others fashion them into attractive baskets and other receptacles. 
The shells have been more or less frequently used at restaurants and fashionable 
dinner parties where the search for the unique has suggested the substitutiou of this 
article for a plate in serving numerous fancy food-preparations. For this purpose 
they have been brought as far as Washington. Scallops have also been served in 
their own shells. 
A homely use of the shells is mentioned by Captain Collins, who remembers that in 
the Penobscot region they were formerly sometimes employed in skimming milk, and 
they may still be used for that purpose. 
The sales of shells at the present time do not amount to more than $100 annually; 
but it would doubtless be desirable for the fishermen in all localities to remember the 
economic value which these products have, and to endeavor to create a more regular 
demand that would no doubt contribute noticeably to the financial results of the 
fishery. 
