Wellfleet
At the present time in Wellfleet Bay there is no commercial scallop fishery, although scattering scallops are found in various parts of the harbor.
Yarmouth
The scallop grounds of Yarmouth are on the south side of the town, on the flats which border the shore from Bass River to Lewis Bay. Part of the waters of Lewis Bay belong to the town of Yarmouth, and scallops are found over all this territory. The nature of the bottom is the same as at Dennis and Barnstable. The total area of scallop territory is estimated at 2,250 acres. The scallop grounds of Dennis are open to Yarmouth scallopers.
Both dredges and “pushers” are employed in the scallop fishery of the town. The method depends upon the location of the scallops, whether in shallow or deep water, as well as the means of the individual scallopers. Both the Chatham dredge and the “scraper” are used. Forty-one men were engaged in the 1907-08 fishery, using 15 boats and ten dories.
The production for 1907-08 was 8,000 gallons, valued at $10,480. Scallops were shipped to New York and Boston markets.
Capital invested.
| Value of boats, | $3,750 |
| Value of dories, | 200 |
| Value of gear, | 475 |
| Total, | $4,425 |
The same laws as were quoted for Dennis, the two towns having common fishery rights.
The 1904-05 season was prosperous, as Yarmouth scallopers had the privilege of scalloping in the large bed off Dennis. The two following years were very poor, and even the last season has not been up to the average.
Footnotes
10 E. Ingersoll, “The Scallop Fishery,” United States Fish Commission report, 1881.
11 United States Department of Agriculture, Farmers’ Bulletin 85, 1898.
12 Statistics taken from the United States Fish Commission reports.
13 Licenses.
14 Return of Special Agent William C. Dunham.