— 56 — 



spit. In Elkhorn Slough (Monterey Bay) there are beds of consider- 

 able extent on the east side not far from the mouth, which are 

 worked by local diggers. At Morro Bay the gaper is common, one 

 of the largest beds lying at the northern end of the bay opposite Morro 

 Rock and not far from the entrance. 



On the outer coast this species exists at numerous places, and its 

 range and habitat is probably coextensive with that of Paphia staminea. 

 Crescent City, Wilsons Point, Patricks Point, etc., are only representa- 

 tive localities. On the exposed coasts they are not to be found in the 

 great abundance which characterizes their beds in some of the bays. 

 The size is also small and the shell often worn from contact with rocks. 



Use — The flesh of the gaper is not as highly prized as that of some 

 of the other species of clams and for this reason is not so extensively 

 used. The Indians formerly dried the siphons for food, saving them 

 for winter use, when they are soaked over night and boiled. They 

 are supposed to be at their best during the "black water" of July, 

 August and September, and from this belief comes the popular name 

 summer clam. In Morro Bay the siphons are also used although the 

 bodies are neglected. The process of preparing them is said to have 

 been introduced by the Japanese. The "necks" are cut off as far 

 down as convenient and prepared by "skinning," quartering and 

 frying, and are said to make a very tasty dish. It is locally reported 

 that no apparent injury to the clam results from the loss of the 

 siphons Init this seems improbable and should be checked by direct 

 observation (C. L. H.). 



The poor repute of this clam seems to the writer to be unjustified. 

 The meat is very sweet and of excellent quality and though the siphons 

 are tough and require special treatment as suggested in hints on the 

 use of clams (page 68) no part need be rejected. They are not likely 

 to prove of great commercial value as the shells are easily broken and 

 do not hold water well, making shipments of any distance impossible. 

 Its use must therefore remain local, being confined to campers and 

 residents. 



SOFT-SHELL 



Mya arenaria Linnaeus 

 Plate 17, figures 2 and 3 



Other names — Soft clam ; long clam ; mud clam. 



As far as it is possible to ascertain. Mya arenaria was introduced into 

 our waters nearly half a century ago. It was first noted in San 

 Francisco Bay, to which spat of the Eastern oyster had been trans- 

 ])lanted, and it is very probable that it was brought in with shipments 

 of that species. It appeared in Willapa Bay, Washington, about 1880, 

 and since then has made itself at home in all suitable localities from the 

 Gulf of Georgia in British Columbia, to San Francisco. As it lives 

 inside the Artie Circle on the Atlantic side of our continent and in 

 Europe, it may be expected to spread much farther to the north than is 

 at present the case. The Indians of northern California have no name 

 for it in their own languages, and one of the chiefs of the Indians in 

 the vicinity of Eureka informed Mr. Thompson that the clam was 



