PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE HABITS AND LIFE-HISTORY 

 OF THE QUAHAUG— ( Venus mercenaries.) 



A. K. KRAUSE, BROWN UNIVERSITY. 



Questions which naturally present themselves at the beginning 

 of this investigation are : 



What is its geographical distribution ? 



What is its distribution in relation to depth of water? 



What is the breeding season ? 



How, when, and where are the eggs laid? 



What are the hal >its of the young fry ? 



Are they free swimming, like those of the soft-shell clam ? 



Do the fry " set," like clam and scallop, and what are their hab- 

 its after setting? 



What is their rate of growth ? 



At what age do they breed ? 



What are their natural enemies? 



What is their food? 



To what extent do they wander or migrate? 



What can be done to increase the supply of quahaugs in the 

 Bay? 



The systematic investigation of these questions was begun in 

 August, 1902. Enquiry among the fishermen who are familiar with 

 the quahaug brings out a variety of different opinions in regard 

 to them, and an examination of the literature fails to give satis- 

 factory answers. Quahaugs are found in greater or less abundance 

 in ,-ill parts of the Bay, from the shore which is exposed at low 

 tide to considerable <h'|>lhs. 



The smaller sizes were found to he wry abundant in Mill Cove, 



