REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 35 



mens taken at random, was slightly over two inches. On January 

 20th, 1902, eighteen months after transplanting-, the average length 

 was about 2£ inches. Samples of the specimens at this time are pic- 

 tured life-size in the last report (figure 4). On August 5th, 1902, 

 when they were two years old, the average length of all the speci- 

 mens which remained was 2-nr inches (74 mm.). The smallest 

 specimen was 2^ inches long and the largest one 3f inches. The 

 following table gives the size of all the specimens on that date : 



No. of specimens. Length in inches. Length in millemeters. 



1 3f 85 



1 3f\ 80 



Hi 3i Tit 



21 S T \ 77 



40 3 7<i 



16 2|f 74 



28 2| 7:: 



11 2ff 71 



24 2| 69 



9 2| 67 



1 2i 64 



The growth during the past year has probably been smaller 

 than it would have been had the specimens lived under more 

 favorable conditions. They were left on the shore in the box, and 

 most of the time had a depth of soil insufficient for the best growth. 

 The brief history of the growth of these specimens, from August 

 14th, 1900, to January, 1902, is given in figure 11. 



Continued Experiments of Transplanting clams in Reserved 

 Plots. — The transplanting of clams by sowing the small spat, 

 measuring from ^ to £ inch in length, was tried on a small scale in 

 the summer of 1900, and it was clear from these preliminary trials 

 that the method had many distinct advantages over that of plant- 

 ing the older clams. The spat can usually be found in great 

 abandance in certain restricted localities, or can be obtained in 

 spat collectors. The young clams burrow more rapidly and more 



