— 59 — 



them constantly, and peddle them whenever possible, according to local report. 

 It is said that two men can fill a sack during one low tide. The current of the 

 river is slight, aind the tides run far back. 



8. Russian River. A bed is said to have at one time existed at the mouth, 

 but to have been destroyed by the coming down of sand. The bed could not have 

 been of large size, or of much importance. 



9. Bodega Bay. The commercial production is small in comparison with the 

 size of the bay. The beds lie on the eastern side, along the shore, and along tlie 

 northern half of the west side. They are abundant enough to pay for digging, as 

 in Humboldt Bay, and occasionally a digger comes from Tomales Bay or the local 

 residents get them. The flats are very extensive in proportion to the size of the 

 bay, but Mya inhabits for the most part the regions nearer the shore. The region 

 i.s more important than the Eel River sloughs, although the clams are sparsely 

 distributed. 



10. Estero del Americano. Small beds are present, but the clams are not abundant 

 enough to be of importance. 



11. Tomales Bay. Beds of Mya exist near the head of the bay, behind a railroad 

 embankment there and in the open bay, also near Milleton, Prestens Point, Toms 

 Point, and toward Smiths Landing, all localities on the northeastern side of the 

 bay. They are of some importance commercially, but are not extensive. Two 

 clam diggers were working in the bay during 1912, and had nearly "cleaned out" 

 the beds near the head of the bay in a short time, according to their statements. 



12. Drakes Estero. As may be seen from the Coast and Geodetic Survey maps, 

 the area available is not extensive. No commercial digging had been done at the 

 time of their examination because of the ownership of the surrounding country by 

 a single estate. The beds are not thickly populated, but might be improved by 

 culture. Abbotts Lagoon on the north side of Point Reyes contains a small Mya bed. 



It will be seen from the foregoing summary that the available area 

 for the growth of Mija airiiaria on our northern coast line is not 

 great. Indeed, it is very doubtful M'hether it is eapable of meetinu 

 more than local demands of a size such as exists, or may exist within a 

 very few years. There were found in 1912 and 1913 but a total of 

 nine or ten men who made any thoroughgoing attempt at commercial 

 digging, and these men were perhaps too many to have made their 



Fig. 23. Soft-shell clam "farm" just south of Bayshore, San Francisco 

 Bay. The fence of stakes is to keep out the skates and encloses about 

 six acres of mud flats. 



