The Giant Scallop Fishery of Maine

The early years of commercial scallop fishing in Maine.

“The fishery for scallops on the coast of Maine is an industry of such comparatively recent inception that the general fishery interests, except those directly concerned, are, as a rule, misinformed of its extent and character, or wholly ignorant of its existence. Although the industry gives employment to several hundred persons; has considerable capital devoted to it; and is capable of great improvement and development, it appears to have received little attention, and the first investigation of its nature and extent was undertaken by the U.S. Fish Commission in 1889.” [pg. 313]

This fascinating report was written by Hugh Smith and published in Washington, D.C. by the Government Printing Office in 1891. It details some of the earliest federal investigations into the commercial scallop industry of Maine, including a biological overview of the giant scallop, the development of local fisheries, methods of capture and processing, and financial data on the market. An impressive fold-out map titled ‘The Extent and Location of the Giant Scallop Located on the Coast of Maine’ highlights the seafloor where the bivalve is harvested and includes an inset map of the Sheepscot River.