184 lidihlc Molhisca of the ()rt\:^(ni ('(Hist 



intended to serve as a material cheek uix)n the actual taking- of 

 clams during the closed >eaM>n mentioned above. The tourist 

 season at the jjopular resorts of Seaside and Ciearhart is at its 

 height during the summer months. .\ greatly increased popula- 

 tion at the lieaches results in a very great destruction of both 

 mature and immature razor clams for local consumption. Inexpe- 

 rienced diggers often crush the shells and fail to take the animals 

 from the sand, or mutilate them in their strenuous efforts and 

 cast them away as useless. Disregard of size of clams taken 

 results in the destruction of man}' small individuals which should 

 ha\e been given a chance to mature. This constant strain tipon 

 the si)ecies has probal)l\' been offset, however, by repeated suc- 

 cessful spawning" seasons, as the clams on this beach are about 

 as plentiful at the present time as in previous years. Xeverthe- 

 less. there is little in the present restrictions and practice to serve 

 as a guarantee against ])ossil)le de])letion of the species in the 

 future. 



2. Paphia staminea (Conrad). 



The "little neck clam" is fretiuently seen in the markets of 

 Portland and other inland cities of the northwest, the greatest 

 suppl}- coming froni the gravel beds of the southern shores of 

 Pug'et Sound. The species is well distributed, however, along the 

 northwest coast and in Oregon occurs in the larger bays as Tilla- 

 mook. Xetarts. ^"aquina and Coos (Figures I, II. IX ) . It is not 

 the dominant species in an\- of these localities but may be 

 taken in considerable numbers from the gravel beds of Netarts 

 I Say and from the mud flats of Coos Bay .south of Empire City. 

 Dredging operations in 1919. for the purpose of deepening the 

 channel of Yacjuina Pay. largel}' destroyed the clam l)eds on the 

 north shore of the bay al)ove the town of Newport. Among other 

 species commonly foiuid here was Paphia staminea. This species 

 is not foimd in sufficient (|uantities in anv localitv on the coast of 

 Oregon to suppK more than a limited local demand. 



3. Schizothaerus nuttalli Conrad. 



The "Washington clain" is a species of wide distribution on 



[81 



