28 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



VI. A Continued Investigation of the Life History of the 

 Clam; Methods of Artificial Propagation and Cul- 

 tivation, 



In the report for 1903, under this heading, a resume of the work up 

 to that date was given. During the past year few new experiments 

 were tried, but some of the old experiments on the rate of growth 

 were continued, some observations on the growth of the newly set 

 clams were recorded, and a large number of clams were transplanted 

 from Cornelius Island, Wickford, where they were too thickly set to 

 live, to other localities. 



Continuation of Old Experiments on Growth. — Experiment No. 8, 

 recorded on page 59 of last year's report, has been continued. This 

 experiment consisted in transplanting a number of clams of various 

 sizes and watching their growth. Each individual was marked with 

 a notch on the shell which gave a permanent record of its original 

 size. The specimens were di^dded into classes, according to the year 

 in which they set. The experiment commenced on February 20, 

 1903. 



The results are tabulated below. 



(The age of the ''very old" clams is unknown. They were dug, at 

 the low winter tides, far out from the usual low water lines.) 



