— 36 — 



strong foot, and the siphons indicate the ability of this clam to live 

 in diverse localities. The shell varies greatly in strength and thick- 

 ness according to the locality. Some of the money shells obtained at 

 Bodega Bay were half an inch in thickness, nine inches long, hard, 

 and of great strength and weight for the species. Others from mnd 

 fiats were sometimes very thin and easily broken. As a rule the shells 

 are of a strength sufficient to stand rough handling, about four or 

 five inches in length, and the valves hold moisture well enough to 

 enable the clam to stand shipment for some distance. The siphons, 

 although small, are long enough to enable the clam to bury itself 

 beyond the reach of the ordinary surface enemies and of the effects 

 of heavy waves, but are not of such bulk as to diminish the value of 

 the clam as food. The species is in many respects intc^rmediate between 

 the surface dwelling corkle (Cardium) , with its lack of a siphon and 

 its great foot, and the sedentary, deeply burrowing soft shell {Mya) 

 or gaper (Schizothaerus) , with long siphons and small rudimentary 

 foot, but bears some resemblance in habitat and characteristics to 

 Faphia staniinea, the rock cockle, or Tomales Bay cockle. 



Distribution and use — The localities in which they are most mark- 

 edly abundant are : Humboldt Bay. Crescent City Beach, Bodega 

 Bay, Wilsons Creek, Tomales Bay, Bolinas Bay, and Drakes Estero. 



As it is on the British Columbian and Alaskan beaches, the Washing- 

 ton clam is the most important one present in Humboldt Bay, being 

 so abundant that a digger can gather from eight to twelve buckets 

 full in a good low tide (1911). These are nearly all Saxidomus 

 giganteus, though a small proportion of 8. nuttalU are present among 

 those marketed (December, 1919). The beds extend over the northern 

 portion of South Humboldt Bay, between the entrance and Fields 

 Landing. They are also found in North Humboldt Bay, but not as 

 abundantly. The beds are found near low tide line, as a rule, in 

 regions of high salinity, as. are those of ScJiizotJiaerus. The clams lie 

 about eight inches or less below the surface, and apparently move 

 about in a very' limited way, judging from the fact that they are 

 found at the bottom of what the clam diggers term "holes," or softer 

 places among the more viscous surrounding mud. In each of these 

 "holes" are found frequently three or four individuals; these are 

 captured by treading the mud for them and, when discovered, by 

 utilizing a hook to bring them to the surface. Between ten and twenty 

 men were, in 1911, making use of the species extensively for them- 

 selves or for the market. 



In no other locality on the coast does this species assume a propor- 

 tionate importance. In Bodega Bay the beds lie in the middle ground 

 exposed by the tides, and along the western shore. In Tomales Bay 

 the beds are neither extensive nor utilized commercially;. In Bolinas 

 Bay they are nearly gone, due, it is said, to the deposition of sand. 

 Wilsons Creek, Shelter Cove and Crescent Beach have sparsely inhab- 

 ited beds open to the ocean, not clearly defined nor of much importance. 

 Judging from the fact that at one time the Indians came annually to 

 camp at Tomales Bay in order to gather the Washington clam, they 

 must have been far more abundant then, than at the time of the survey. 

 At present the use of shells as money is restricted to the older Indians, 

 but formerly it was general, extending along the whole coast beyond 



