Edible Mollitsca of the Orci:;(>ii Coast 193 



slight possibility of these species beconiiny- important fresli food 

 proclticts of inland markets in the near future. According' to 

 Field, ci.ted above, the pickling' of sea mussels has become an 

 industry on the Atlantic coast, and as indicated by the census 

 report, referred to in the introduction of this paper, they are 

 being' canned to some extent in California. The mussels of the 

 Oregon coast have not found their way into the markets in any 

 form and are used in very insignificant quantities by local con- 

 sumers. 



As it is evident that few of the clams and sea mussels of the 

 northwest coast can be placed on inland markets as fresh products, 

 it would seem, therefore, that methods of converting them into 

 articles of trade locally might be employed to advantage. In the 

 opinion of the writer, the clams of the Oregon coast are of insufft- 

 cient quantity to enable any of the species to long stand the strain 

 of being- subjected to the usual demands of a cannery running at 

 full capacity throughout the year and utilizing only these products. 

 It is believed, however, that canneries of more general character, 

 if the cost of equipment would permit, capable of handling not 

 only clams and mussels but fish, berries and other produce during 

 the seasons of the year, might be established and run on a pay- 

 ing basis in the vicinity of Xetarts Bay, Yaquina Bay, on the 

 lower Siuslaw River and on Coos Bay. Fish canneries are in 

 operation at some of these points but none, I believe, are handling 

 shellfish at the present time. 



Sl'AWXINC, I'KRIOIJS AND GROWTH. 



I. Siliqua patula Dixon. 



As a result of microscopic examinations of the sex organs 

 at dififerent periods of the year it is evident that the razor clam 

 spawns during the summer months. The exact limits of the 

 period, however, have not been definitely determined at this time. 



An examination of male clams on January 28th revealed the 

 condition of the spermaries characteristic of this species during 

 the winter months. Spermatocytes were observed to be in various 

 stages of development but no mature spermatozoa could be 

 detected. On May loth spermatozoa were fully fc^rmed but showed 



fi7l 



