Here you see four of our “day scalloping” fishing vessels at rest this last morning of 2023. They’re in cloudy Naskeag Harbor, where they are protected by Harbor Island, which has a summer residence on it. From left to right, the fishing vessels are “Captain Morgain,” “Christopher-Devin III,” “Dear Abby:” and “Tarrfish.”
Here’s a close-up of “Dear Abbie:” that shows her mast and boom, which maneuver her “drag” (dredge) that scoops scallops from the bottom:
These boats catch and bring ashore (they “land”) their scallops in one day and are the primary source of scallops caught in our area. Their scallops are the freshest. They’re called “dry scallops” because, due to the fishermen’s short trips, there is no need to pack the catches in ice to protect against toxins. Ice melts and can change the scallops’ taste slightly. There also are “trip-boat” scallopers who often are at sea for a week or more. They need to pack their catches in ice and, therefore, they sell “wet scallops.”
(Images taken in Brooklin, Maine, on December 31, 2023.)