STATE OF CALIFORNIA 

 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



Fish Bulletin No. 4 SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA January 10, 1921 



INTRODUCTION 



The present paper has two purposes. First, it is an attempt to 

 estimate the economic importance to the state of the bivalves here 

 treated by putting on record the extent and position of the available 

 mollusk producing grounds, the number and abundance of the edible 

 species, and b}^ contributing to a knowledge of their life histories lay 

 the foundation for such protective legislation as may in the future be 

 found necessary. Secondly, it proposes to make available to the camper 

 and amateur naturalist a means of identifying the more common and 

 important bivalves. During the last few years several agencies, chief 

 among which are the development of the automobile and the extension 

 of good roads, have greatly increased the number of people reaching 

 the woods, the mountains and the sea. The campers at the seashore 

 should realize the possibilities of food in the clams, mussels and other 

 bivalves of the California coast, for these animals are at their best 

 when freshly taken. It is hoped that the key and the figures here 

 presented will enable any one to recognize the forms met with on 

 this coast and that the accounts of their haliits and use will make 

 it possible to find and to utilize a source of food now distinctly 

 neglected. By directing the attention of the camper to the interesting 

 adaptations and beauties of these little known animals, his pleasure in 

 the great out of doors will be correspondingly increased. 



Nearly five hundred species of bivalves are known from the west coast 

 of America north of Mexico. Many of these are, of course, too small 

 or too rare to be of possible food value. The following key will serve 

 to identify the forms treated in the present paper, which includes, 

 it is believed, all those to be met with in the markets or likely to be dug 

 for food, but it must be remembered that many others, usually less 

 abundant or less conspicuous, will be found on this coast. As far as 

 known this is the first key to the bivalves of the coast that has been 

 publislied and the task .of selection has proved to be a difficult one. 



In treating the species the nomenclature and order given by Dall* 

 has been followed except in the matter of the use of subgeneric names 

 in which the usage of the writer differs. 



* Checklist of the Recent Bivalve Mollusks of the Northwest Coast of America, 

 etc. Southwest Museum, 1916. 



