BIOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY 



183 



Pounds * 



Value 



Total 



3,308,900 



$181,226 



* Edible portions, exclusive of shells. 



t Inquiries have shown that there is no known production of Mytilus edulis in Virginia. This 

 figure probably represents the production of Modiolus plicatulus, the ribbed mussel. This may 

 be the case in the South Carolina for Mytilus edtilis is not gathered in commercial quantities 

 in that state. 



SURF CLAMS 



The surf clams or skimmers {Spisula solidissima) have long been known 

 to grow in abundance along the beaches of the northern states. Their chief 

 market was for fish bait and more recently as minced clams and chowder. 

 They grow in the hard sand of beaches and are often washed out of the 

 sand in great quantities during storms. In the process of feeding, the clams 

 accumulate considerable quantities of sand which must be thoroughly 

 washed out in processing them for chowder. It is reported that only the large 

 foot is used and that the gills and viscera are discarded. The abundance of 

 these clams along the coast of North Carolina is not definitely known. The 

 distribution of the surf clam is from Labrador to North Carolina. However, 

 a southern variety, Spisula solidissima similis, replaces the northern form 

 in southern waters. The production in 1945 for the various states was as 

 follows : 



RAZOR CLAMS 



Razor clams (Ensis and Solen spp.) are commonly found in North Caro- 

 lina and may possibly exist in commercial quantities. The greatest harvest 

 of these clams is on the Pacific coast. Production figures for 1945 along the 

 east coast show Massachusetts (11,900 lbs.) as the only producer in com- 

 mercial quantities. 



