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.
| 1907-08.14 | Gallons. | Price per Gallon. | Value. |
|---|---|---|---|
| October, | 2,639 | $1.25 | $3,298.75 |
| November, | 4,160 | 1.00 | 4,160.00 |
| December, | 5,430 | 1.00 | 5,430.00 |
| January, | 5,910 | 1.50 | 8,865.00 |
| February | 960 | 2.00 | 1,920.00 |
| March, | 1,146 | 2.50 | 2,865.00 |
| Total, | 20,245 | $1.31 | $26,538.75 |
Shipments were made by express to New York and Boston, the charges to New York being 95 cents, to Boston 55 cents per keg. The greater part was shipped to New York market. The scallops were shipped mostly in 7-gallon kegs, which cost 33 cents apiece. About 30 New York and 20 Boston firms receive shipments from the Nantucket scallopers.
Two kinds of scallops, the large “channel” and the small or “eel grass,” are obtained. The small scallops are more numerous than the large, but are naturally less desirable.
Capital invested.
| Value of power boats, | $4,000 |
| Value of sail boats, | 9,250 |
| Value of dories, | 500 |
| Value of gear, | 700 |
| Total, | $14,450 |
Of late years the scallopers have taken an interest in protecting the scallop. Many scallopers when fishing in shallow water “cull out” the small “seed” scallops, and, instead of returning them to the shallow water, transplant them to the deep water of the channel, where they are not only protected in case of severe winter, but produce a larger scallop the following year. This is the only attempt at protecting the scallop ever made in Massachusetts, and shows how important the industry is to the town.
For the two seasons previous to 1907-08 every scalloper was required to have a license. In 1905-06 the price was 50 cents, while the following year, 1906-07, 190 licenses, costing $1 each, were taken out. No licenses were required in 1907-08. Special by-laws, either limiting the catch or enforcing a close season to meet the demands of the fishery, are made by the town each year.
Scallops have been always plentiful, but fifty-five years ago they were not caught, as they were considered poisonous. The present industry started in 1883, and since that time, in spite of its ups and downs, it has remained a constant source of revenue to the island. Notwithstanding a scarcity of scallops, the high prices of 1905-06 enabled the fishermen to have a fairly successful season. Both the 1906-07 and the 1907-08 seasons have been very prosperous, as scallops have been plentiful.