The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-03-19
the Editor of the Press:

To the Editor of the Press:
The discovery of an extensive bed of
scallops in Portland harbor has caused
the publication of several articles in
the newspapers in reference to this
bivalye. These articles contain so much
error mixed with the truth that perhaps
a statement of fact concerning the seal
lops of our New England coast may not
be without interest to the readers Of the
PRESS.
There are three species of scallops
found off the coast Of New Englsnd,
Pecten irredisns, Pecten islandicus and
Pocten megellanicus, the latter being
the mollusk recently found near Little
Chebeague island.
Pecten irradians is scallop which pre-
fers warmer water than is found on our
Maine coast. 1t is very common on the
south shore of Cape Cod and It's habitat
extends from that point to Florida,
though it is occasionally discovered
north Of Cape Cod. am not aware that
1t is now found off the coast of Maine,
though the extensive beds of the fossil
shells in Portland harbor and along tie
coast are evidence that it was once
abundant in this vicinity. Odd valves
may often be found thrown up on the
beach at Old Orchard. 1t is beautiful
shell two to three inches in diameter and
may easily be distinguished from the
other scallops by the elevated, radiating
ribs, about twenty in number, which
cover the surface of the shell.
Pecten islandicus ia slightly larger
shell, It's radiating ribs are smaller, and
are from fifty to Que hundred in number.
1t is an Arctic species and Ia abundant
at the New Foundland banks. 1t is o.
casionally found off the coast of Maine.
G. B. Fuller found it near Passport and
1T has been dredged in Oasoo bay.
Peoten megellanicus, or az It has some
times been called Pecten tenuicosta tus,
is much larger than the two preceding
scalIops, a full grown specimen often
measuring seven inches or more in dia-
meter. II may be distinguished from the
Others by its large size, and the fine
radiating lines, rather than ribs, which
cross the surface of the upper valve. The
lower valve is nealry fiat and the radiat
Ing lines are not SO distinct. Its habitat
is ssid to extend from Labrador to New
Jersey.
Pecten megellanicus is the shell nov
dredged in Portland harbor. Its recent
discovery in our .harbor has surprised
many, yetsfor many years it has been
known to exist there andIelsewhere along
the coast of Maine More than twenty
years ago Prof L. E. Verrill OF the
Uniteda States fish commission reported
that it was abundant in Frenohman' s
bay, Mt. Desert, Me-, common in Passa-
maquoddy bay and the Bay of Fundy, u
and in 1873 he dredged it in Casc0 bay in
fonr to eight fathoms. 1t has been found
near Machias. Esstport, Georgetown,
Wiscasset aud Castione and the writer
has often seen soalIops from Castine for
| sale in the Portland market.
The muscle by means of which the
animal CLOSES his shell is the edible por-
t1on of the scallop. 1t may be cooked In
various ways, and is highly esteemed by
many as an article of diet.
Typical specimens of these three inter-
esting shells may be found neatly
mounted and labelled with their
scientific names at the rooms of the Port.
land Society of Natural History.
f. p. WENTWORTH.