160 MARINE FISHERIES OF NORTH CAROLINA 



An undesirable feature of southern oysters is the presence of pigmenta- 

 tion on the mantle which causes a dark color. Similar oysters are some- 

 times encountered in Chesapeake Bay but they are common in North 

 Carolina and become more prevalent further south. 



The natural beds of North Carolina differ markedly, in one respect, 

 from those in many northern areas in that there is very little substratum. 

 The beds are situated on the surface of a sandy or firm muddy bottom with 

 very little depth of shells. Intensive dredging of the beds soon removes this 

 layer, and the recovery becomes a slow and prolonged process, unless shell 

 plantings are made and oysters returned to the bed to build up a future 

 supply. 



In spite of the many obstacles that present themselves in the path of the 

 development of a great industry, the North Carolina waters appear to 

 contain potentialities. In a consideration of the many factors involved, 

 oyster culture has not been given a fair trial. Many unproductive, barren 

 areas lie idle and undeveloped. In some cases, production could un- 

 doubtedly be increased from five- to tenfold if efforts were made toward 

 this end. From the biological point of view, Pamlico Sound offers a 

 promising field and appears to be favorable for developing a much greater 

 industry than now exists. In order to promote and achieve this aim, a 

 coordinated effort will be needed through a program of education, dem- 

 onstration, and continued study of the problems peculiar to the area. Some 

 changes may be necessary in the existing legislation in order to assure 

 progress toward a greater oyster industry in the State. 



THE HARD CLAM 



Venus mercenaria (Linnaeus) 



INTRODUCTION 



The hard clam is known by various names: "little neck," quahaug or 

 quohog, hard-shell clam, round clam, and "cherrystone." Its specific name, 

 mercenaria, is believed to have originated in the use of the shell by Indians 

 for wampum. The shells were cut to divide the purple and white portions, 

 the purple color being the more highly valued. Although the hard clam is 

 essentially a southern or warm-water form, the bulk of the production is 

 from New England and Long Island Sound. The total production of hard 

 clams from the Atlantic coast in 1940 amounted to nearly 13 million pounds 

 of edible portions, exclusive of shells, valued at nearly two million dollars 

 (Table 4). 



According to Dall (1889) there are twelve species of Venus along the 

 southeastern coast, eight of which are reported from the waters of North 

 Carolina. The species mercenaria is the only one of commercial impor- 



