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
Dredging is the only method of scalloping used in Mattapoisett.
Small cat boats and a few power boats are employed in the fishery.
The "roller" dredge is the most popular style with the Mattapoisett
scallopers, who claim that on the uneven bottom this dredge is the most
successful. This town is the only locality in the State where this kind
of dredge is used. The cost of a dredge completely rigged with rope,
which is often 15 fathoms long, is $4.50, and 8 to 10 dredges are used
for each boat.
During the 1907-08 season the production was 5,000 gallons, valued at
$6,550. These were mostly marketed at New Bedford, where they were
purchased unsoaked by the New Bedford Fish Company. At the first part
of the season it was not uncommon for a boat to catch 25 bushels per
day, but as the season progressed the size of the catch gradually
diminished. The scallops were large, opening 3 quarts to the bushel.
CAPITAL INVESTED.
Value of boats, $6,900
Value of gear, 760
------
Total, $7,660
The scallop industry at Mattapoisett, though once important, was
extinct for several years. The present season has shown a revival, and
the industry has again assumed a commercial value.
_Nantucket._
Nantucket is one of the leading towns of the State in the scallop
fishery. The grounds lie both in Nantucket harbor and in Maddequet
harbor on the west end of the island. The former of these is the
larger and more important, as the fishery is near the town. When the
scallops become scarce in Nantucket harbor, the scallopers adjourn to
the fresher beds of Maddequet. Nantucket harbor contains approximately
3,000 acres of scallop territory; Maddequet and Muskeget, 1,500 acres.
Practically all the scalloping is done by dredging from sail boats,
employing about 99 men in the fishery. The dredges are of the "slider"
and the "scraper" types, the iron frames of which cost $1.50 and the
netting bags 30 cents. From 6 to 10 of these are used per boat, and are
dragged by 7 fathoms of 15-thread rope. Five regular openers are hired,
who receive from 20 to 25 cents per gallon, according to the size of
the scallops. A few scallops are taken in the shallow water by the dory
fishermen with "pushers," which are locally known as "scoops." These
differ from the Cape Cod "pusher," being more rounded and smaller in
size.
SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY.
Number of boats:--
Power, 10
Sail, 37
Dories, 20
Boats, how manned:--
Single, 15
Double, 32
Single dories, 20
In 1906-07 the production was 9,820 gallons, valued at $12,875.
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