OBSERVATIONS ON THE SOFT-SHELL CEAM— (Jfya armaria.) 



(FOURTH PAPER.) 

 A. D. MEAD AND E. W. BARNES, 



BROWN DNIVEBSITY, PROVIDENCE, R I. 



In view of the importance of the soft-shell clam as a food pro- 

 duct, and in view of the increasing scarcity of clams, the Commis- 

 sion of Inland Fisheries have for several years been conducting a 

 systematic investigation of the life-history, habits, and require- 

 ments of this species, together with experiments on clam culture. 

 We have had constantly before us certain general questions: 



What is the breeding season '? 



How, when, and where are the eggs laid ; and what arc the hab- 

 its of the young fry before they set and begin to burrow ? 

 What is the rate of growth of the clams after they have set ? 

 At what age do they breed '? 

 What are the natural enemies of the clam ? 

 What is the food of the clam '? 

 Is it feasible to transplant clams ? 

 AVhat is the best method of collecting spat and transplanting? 



The information already gathered has thrown light on all of 

 these questions, and during the past two seasons we have been 

 making use of the facts relating to the natural history of the clam, 

 and have got under way a number of experiments to test our con- 

 clusions in regard to the methods of clam propagation and the 

 possibility of replenishing the shores. In order to make intelligi- 

 ble the report of the progress of this work during the past season, 



