OYSTERS, CLAMS, AND OTHER MOLLUSKS 247 



floats possesses the advantage that the clams need 

 not be dug again. 



Razor-clams, so called because of their long, nar- 

 row shape, are taken chiefly on the coasts of Oregon, 

 Washington, and Alaska. An important canning in- 

 dustry has been developed on the Pacific coast, which 

 now produces about a million dollars' worth of canned 

 razor-clams each year. Razor-clams are chiefly found 

 in the sand between the tide lines. They are usually 

 most numerous near the low-water mark, and so are 

 taken in the largest quantities during the spring 

 tides when the run-out is the greatest. Razor-clams 

 dig large elliptical holes which extend about two feet 

 into the sand. When all is quiet and the clam feels 

 secure, he remains at the top of his hole so that the 

 shell extends an inch or two above the surface of the 

 sand. But, if anything startles him, he quickly sinks 

 deep into the hole. These clams are usually dug with 

 short-handled spades. Over-fishing has threatened 

 this clam fishery; for that reason, Washington now 

 has a closed season from June 1 to September 1. 



Soft clams are canned in Maine, Massachusetts, 

 and Rhode Island ; Florida and Washington produce 

 canned hard clams. Razor-clams are packed in 

 Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. The combined 

 production is about four hundred thousand cases, 

 valued in excess of two million dollars. 



Clams are canned whole and minced, and as chow- 

 der and soup. A limited amount of clam bouillon and 

 juice is also preserved by canning. The packing of 



