6 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



stomachs of the mollusks immediately after they have ceased feeding, 

 as the tide recedes. Diatoms, Protozoa, and other microorganisms 

 are found to make up a substantial portion of the stomach contents. 



During the summer of 1917. when the writer first made observa- 

 tions on the clam beds of this region, Samuel Terrill, mentioned 

 above, was engaged in digging clams for the local demand as well as 

 for export to Willamette Valley towns. Four miles above Florence 

 at Cushman, a station on the Siuslaw River, direct railroad connec- 

 tions may be had with Portland and intermediate points, the time re- 

 quired to Eugene, where a good many clams were shipped, being 

 about three hours, and to Portland between seven and eight hours. 

 Clams taken in the Siuslaw River during an early morning tide 

 would be delivered to the market or consumer in Eugene, Albany, or 

 Salem the evening of the same day, and early the next morning in 

 Portland. This railroad connection had much to do with stimulating 

 the shellfiesh markets of the Willamette Valley towns mentioned 

 above. 



Although certain portions of the clam beds near Florence had been 

 systematically worked over in years previous to 1917, at this latter 

 time areas comprising 25 acres or more on the north side of the chan- 

 nel of the river and about one-fifth that area on the south side were 

 well stocked with clams. The mollusks were doing much better in 

 the rich, deep mud well out in the middle of the beds than they were 

 nearer the shore where the soil was more sandy in character and 

 where a longer exposure between tides reduced the duration of feed- 

 ing periods. 



It was gratifying to find in 1917 that the clams were being used 

 extensively by the people of that locality and of near-by towns. 

 Mr. Terrill during that year was able to make a fair income by 

 working the clam beds for local demands and for shipments to the 

 markets of Williamette Valley towns. The 5-gallon oil can was used 

 as a standard of measurement for clams, for which quantity 50 cents 

 was the regular price. On a favorable tide Mr. Terrill was able 

 to dig from five to eight cans of clams. It is estimated that the 

 clam beds near Florence would net one w^ho could devote most of his 

 time to this industry from $1,000 to $1,500 annually. Early in 

 1918, Mr. Terrill, believing that he could do better financially in a 

 larger town, established a permanent place of business in the town 

 of North Bend, on Coos Bay, where»he now supplies the local demand 

 for clams and other sea foods. 



The removal of Mr. Terrill left no responsible person in charge 

 of the digging and marketing of clams from this region. Others 

 took up clam digging on a small scale, but were not able to devote 

 much time to it, and as a result in 1918 the export shipments of 

 clams from the Siuslaw River were much curtailed. There w^as even 

 a scarcity of this food product in Florence. It was observed here, 

 as elsewhere, that many families will make use of clams if they are 

 delivered at the door, but few will take the trouble to go and dig 

 them, although conveniently at hand. 



The writer made use of the clam beds of the Siuslaw River during 

 the period from August, 1917, to May, 1919, for experimental work 

 upon the spawning period, the growth, and the shipping qualities 

 of My a arenaria. 



