THE ECONOMIC MOLLUSCA OF ACADIA. 101 



the Pacific coast, to which it has been recently introduced 

 and where it is spreading rapidly. It is sometimes taken by 

 a system of ploughing, but rarely ; the ordinary weapons for 

 capturing it, are there, as with us, a simple bucket and shovel. 



In England this species is used neither for bait nor for 

 food, except very locally, being replaced entirely for both 

 .purposes by the edible Mussel, MytUus edulis. This seems 

 to us very remarkable and unaccountable, considering to what 

 an extent other Mollusca are utilized there. It must be 

 remembered that in England this is called the " Gaper," the 

 name Clam being applied to a species of Scallop, Pecten 

 opercular is. 



In Acadia no statistics are available to show the annual 

 value to the three Provinces of this species as food. The 

 returns in the Annual Fishery Eeports give the value of Clams 

 as bait or else overlook them altogether. By the fishermen 

 and the people of the sea-port towns it is quite extensively 

 eaten in New Brunswick, and it is frequently for sale in the 

 markets. In St. John, Mr. J. A. Turner estimates there are 

 one thousand barrels per year sold, at an average price of one 

 dollar and fifty cents per barrel, wholesale. The largest and 

 ■best for city trade are brought from Lepreau. 



In Nova Scotia it is very extensively used as food, Willis 

 says it could be bought in the Halifax market for a shilling 

 sterling per bushel in the shell, or for about threepence per 

 quart shelled. At present, over three hundred barrels a year 

 are sold, the most of which are brought from Cole Harbor 

 and Chezzetcook. They sell for about ten cents a quart or 

 ,six dollars per barrel shelled. 



In Prince Edward Island it is very little used as food, 

 ■being eaten only by the Acadian French, according to Mr. J. 

 H. Duvar. It is not improbable that some very large indivi- 

 duals may be found in favorable situations, such as those 

 referred to above, from Guilford, Conn. Certainly the sandy 

 shores and warm summer temperature of the water ought to 

 favor their growth to a large size. 



In the vicinity of the St. Croix River, "Clam-bakes " are an 

 institution of venerable antiquity. The Indians probably had 



