Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-10-15
history Of the scallop fishery in the Sheep

hisCory oI the scailOp fishery In the Sheep
scot river dates from 1887. It is stated
that the existence of beds was accidentally
ascer tained by scallops becoming entangled
In lobster traps. The discovery was i'm
mediately put to practical use. fisher
man of the town of Westport made
dredge adapted to bringing up scallops
and operated it with gratifying results in
the river opposite that place. Within a
short time other boats were fitted out from
the various towns on the river and the
nshery was established on quite large
scale. Two years steady work on the ex-
tensive beds has failed to deplete them
and 1t seems probable that, with proper
forethought on the part of the fishermen,
the grounds will not be exhausted for
many years, although the conditions for
the perpetuation of a profitable fishery are
not so favorable as would be afforded by
deeper and less circumscribed beds The
principal fishing is now done by fishermen
of Boothbay, Westport, Southport, Edge
comb and Georgetown. The business has
also engaged lrregularly and to very
small extent few fishermen from New
castle and Wiscasset. In 1889 sixty-fo
persons followed the fishery, of whom
more than third were from Boothbay.
The number of fishermen has increased
each year since the Inauguration of the
fishery and the quantity of scalops taken
In 1889 was larger than the output of any
other locality.
There can be no doubt that large undis-
covered beds of scallops exist, especially
in the deeper waters on various portions
OF the Maine coast that will from time to
time be discovered and become available
when the present sources of supply are
exhausted. The indefatigable down
East" fishermen will not be long in finding
new grounds and applying improved
methods of capture when the occasion re-
qulres and the perpetuation of this profit
able and unique fishery Will be secured.
The form of apparatus now in general
use In taking scallops resembles in some
respects small oyster dredge. and is
called dredge or scoop by the fishermen
IL differs from the oyster dredge in certain
features, however. The size of the dredge
varies somewhat with the locality, but the
essential parts of a scallop dredge are the
handle or pull bail, the iron frame form
ing the mouth Of the dredge and the
pocket into which the mollusks are re-
ceiycd.
The fishing season varies in the different
localities. 1t depends chiefly on the prox-
unity of the markets. Generally speaking
where there is a good local demand in the
vicinity of the sCallop beds the fishery may
continue throughout the year; in other
cases, with distant markets. the fishery
has TO be regu! ated by the weather and is
confined to the colder months, during
which shipments may be safely made for
long distances. ON Mount Desert Island
the months of July and August see the
greatest activity among the scallop fisher
men and the bulk of the catch is made
during that time in November and DeCeul-
ber few men also follow the business
during the remainder of the year, how
ever, the output is small aud uncertain
AT Little Deer Isle, an isolated centre. the
principal operations are carried on from
the first of December till the termination
of cold weather in March or April; in
1889 80 it extended from December LIST to
March 20. \ small amount of fishing is
also done in the fall. The season at Cas-
tine and Cape Roster usually begins
November |, and terminates April L. In
the Sheepscot river the scallops are taken
only during the winter months.
The aggregate output of the fishery in
1887, lsss, and in 1859 respectively was
-. 20i bushels, % 57s bushels, and 10, 1868
bushels The equivalent numbers of gal
Ions We're 23,211 in 1887, l9,62S in l,sS
and 20 81 in 1859 The total value Of the
products as sold by the fishermen was
Sl3,99+ in 1857, Sll 27s in lssS, and SIS
6i1 in 1889 The output of the different
localities is shown In detail in the accom-
panying tables. In the first wear the local
tiles yielding the largest quantities were
IN their order, Castne, Sheepscot river
fremont, Little Deer Isle. Cape Roster
and Mount Desert. In lsSs and 1889 the
order varied somewhat. The Sheep>cot
river is to be credited with the largest
catch followed by Little Deer Isle, Castine,
Cape Rose fremont, Mount Desert and
Sedgwick
The pro ahtily of making large fares.
We're 1t possible to operate 10 advantage |
on deeper beds, suggests the need of |
more improved form of dredge With the |
present dredge it is not easy to take seal |
Tops at greater depth than 80 falhoms, |
Probably the most extensive beds lie be- |
yond that depth and have never been dis
turbed by man. There seems to be no |
doubt that a rich harvest awaits the man |
who first uses Il form of apparatus that |
can be operated N almost any reasonable !
depth of water, say 100 fathoms. The cX-
perience of the t. S Commission has |
demonstrated that the beam-tra Is the |
most effective apparatus for the capture of |
scallops. BY means of it many bushels |
have been brought up at a single haul off |
the Massachusetts coast.