Everyone’s Favorite Mollusk
Richard Toole peeps the pond at Pecoy Point.
Richard Toole peeps the pond at Pecoy Point.
Family scallopers take advantage of mild weather conditions in Cape Pogue Bay.
Family scallopers take advantage of mild weather conditions in Cape Pogue Bay.
Commercial scallopers drag the bottom at the gut.
Commercial scallopers drag the bottom at the gut.
Bringing home the bay scallops.
Bringing home the bay scallops.
Bushel of goodness.
Bushel of goodness.
Tisbury shellfish constable Danielle Ewart ventures out into the fog.
Tisbury shellfish constable Danielle Ewart ventures out into the fog.
Bay scallops are grown by the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group.
Bay scallops are grown by the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group.
Nothing says small and sweet like bay scallop season.
Nothing says small and sweet like bay scallop season.
Shucked and ready for dinner.
Shucked and ready for dinner.
Scallop season has begun, and on the Vineyard men and women turn to the ponds to gather their dinners or earn their living. These hardy Islanders don waders and go out in skiffs with hand-cranked chain drags. The work is hard and cold but it has own unique rhythm: dip net or drag for the daily limit, return to land, shuck the scallops, take them to the fish market and earn a good day’s pay — or just eat them for dinner.