A Report upon the Mollusk Fisheries of MassachusettsMassachusetts. Commissioners on Fisheries and Game
Science
A Report upon the Mollusk Fisheries of Massachusetts
Massachusetts. Commissioners on Fisheries and Game
Shellfish fisheries -- Massachusetts
The principal scalloping grounds of the town of Barnstable are found in
Hyannis bay and at Cotuit. Scallops are said to have once been abundant
in Barnstable harbor, on the north side of Cape Cod. At the present day
the scallop is unknown commercially in this locality, and few are found
on the sand flats of the harbor. A. Howard Clark, in his report on the
fisheries of Massachusetts, in 1880, makes the following statement
concerning this industry in Barnstable harbor:--
Scallops are abundant along the shores of the harbor, and
in 1876 a party of men from Hyannis established themselves
here for the purpose of gathering them. In 1877 the price of
scallops declined very greatly, forcing these men to abandon
their enterprise. The fishery was continued, however, by two
men of Barnstable. In the winter of 1877-78 the latter shipped
40 half-barrels of "eyes," and during the winter of 1878-79
only 6 half-barrels. They were sent to Boston and New York.
This furnishes a concrete example of the extinction of the productive
scallop beds in certain localities. The chances are that a severe
winter or other adverse physical conditions killed all the scallops
in the harbor, and rendered impossible any future supply. Although
Barnstable harbor, with its swift tides, is not suitable for scallops
in all parts, yet there are certain localities where they should
thrive. In no way is it visionary or impossible that by the proper
transplanting of young scallops from the waters on the south side of
the Cape, these "seeders" might furnish other generations of scallops,
and revive an extinct industry. At any rate, the chances for success in
this line look favorable, and should be carefully considered.
_Hyannis._--Although the scallop industry on the north coast of the
town is extinct, it still flourishes as of old on the south coast. The
bulk of the business is carried on here, and nearly all the shipments
are made from this town. The scallop territory comprises 2,700 acres,
in the following localities: (1) Lewis Bay; (2) near Squaw's Island;
(3) Hyannisport harbor; and (4) the shore waters. At Hyannisport small
scallops are taken with "pushers" in the shallow water, while large
scallops are taken by dredging in the other three localities. Scallops
are found in different parts and in varying abundance each year.
Practically all this territory as outlined on the map is suitable for
scallops.
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