OYSTER-INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 317 



of a violet color, more or less deep in proportion to the age of the animal. 

 These mollusks, when fully grown, are commonly three inches and a half 

 long, two inches and a half wide, and three inches thick. 



The Venus notata is a species of clam very nearly allied to the one 

 just mentioned, and is probably only one of its varieties. 



Round clams exist in great abundance on the American coast, from 

 Cape Cod almost to the extremity of Florida.* They are generally 

 found on the shores of gulfs, of bays, and of the mouths of large rivers, 

 which are less exposed to tbe action of the waves than the open coast. 

 Their beds are at a depth varying from 6 to 25 feet below the surface of 

 the water at low tide. Like all the mollusks of that family, they prefer 

 a large proportion of mud with the sand in which they live. They bury 

 themselves only a few iuches deep, with the siphons directed upward. 

 During my stay on Long Island, I frequently saw clams caught, the 

 shells of which were covered with sea-weed, a convincing proof of the 

 shallow depth at which they are buried in the soil. 



Clams are caught by means of the tongs and the rake, the fishermen 

 stationing their boats over the beds at the proper state of the tide. 

 The tongs in use is exactly like that employed in taking oysters. As to 

 the rake it is entirely of iron, about two feet wide, with semicircular 

 teeth, the curvature of which answers the same purpose as the net-pouch 

 in the ordinary rake. The teeth are separated about a quarter of an 

 inch, and are about two feet long. The rake has a light pole for a han- 

 dle, from 20 to 25 feet in length, according to the depth of the water 

 over the bottom to be explored. 



I would repeat here what I before said in connection with the taking 

 of oysters, that these instruments are exceedingly well adapted for use 

 upon small beds. They not only do not destroy a large number of mol- 

 lusks to no purpose, as is the case with heavier implements, but, on 

 account of the space between the teeth, small specimens are rarely 

 taken, and the banks are consequently not depopulated. 



I have imported from the United States models of the tongs and the 

 rake for the fishery-bureau, since I am satisfied that if they were 

 brought into common use upon our shores they would be of great serv- 

 ice to our fishermen. Besides, I have no doubt that, with their aid, 

 beds of mollusks, hitherto unknown, may be found in bays of the ocean 

 or in the Mediterranean. It must be admitted that our present knowl- 

 edge of the extent of our wealth in shell-fish is still very imperfect, on 

 accouut of the restraints imposed by the ancient regulations which yet 

 control the ordinary fisheries. The use of the instruments in question 

 does not, however, interfere with the multiplication of fish in the water 



*Clams are nowhere so abundant as in Long Island Sound ; in the great bay south 

 of this island ; in the bay off Sandy Hook ; upon the shores of Jersey, and at the mouth 

 of the Delaware. They are also taken in great quantities in Chesapeake Bay, and in 

 Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds. 



