35 



*;i'<iss, wliilc otiici- iiulividiuils h.iit little loiij^cr have been seen 

 unattached. It is ])r()l)ah]e that when about one to one and a 

 half inches loni,'- they free themselves and j)ass the i-eniainder of 

 their life unattached. 



Of the soft body only the large adductor muscle of the 

 shell, Mhich is called the "eye" or "heart," is used as food, the 

 catch usually being shucked before being placed on the market. 

 In this species this muscle is about one inch long and half an 

 inch in diameter. The reniain(l(>r of the body is either thrown 

 away or used as bait. 



Reference has already been made to the high price which 

 tl>is form commands. Unfortuuately, no statistics later than 

 1889 are at my disposal at present, but at that time the Rhode 

 Island fishermen received 75 cents to $1.00 per gallon for their 

 catch. It is very probable that should the scallop be intro- 

 duced into the local market, where it is at present unknown, 

 a ready demand for all that these beds could su})ply would soon 

 be created, resulting in a profitable industry. 



IV. DESCKH'TION AND HABITS OF THE CI>AM. 



As has already been said, the clam which is found in tliis 

 region is a northern form known under the names of "hard," 

 "little neck" clam, or "quahog" (Venus mcrccnaria). The 

 shell is rounded, with the posterior end slightly prolonged, and 

 has a pronounced notch in front of the lunbo. It is heavy, 

 nearly one-quarter of an inch in thickness, and the only mark- 

 ings are the more or less pronounced concent i-ic ridges showing 

 periods of growth. The largest specimens which we have found 

 in this region have been al)out six inches long, although the 

 a\'erage would be much smalle?". 



As tlie name "little neck" implies, the siphon or "lU'ck" 

 is very short, and the clams are found eithei- only partially 

 buried in the sand or else with the posterior end of the shell 

 barely showing at the sni'face. In any ease the hinge (or back 

 or the shell) is always upi)enii()st. They ai-e found on almost 

 any kind of suitable bottom which is neither too soft to allow 

 them to stay at the surface luu- so shifting that they are unable 

 to hold their ])osition. As will i)e shown more completely 



