8 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



It was also shown by repeated experiments on the rate of growth 

 of Mya that young clams 25 millimeters in length will, in favorable 

 positions in the bed, double their length in six months' time, or 

 reach a length of 50 millimeters. How long the clams will continue 

 to live and grow has not been demonstrated here. It is estimated, 

 lioAvever, that the larger clams of these beds, those of a length of G 

 inches or more, are probably more than 5 years of age. 



Attempts were made to restock depleted areas of the beds by 

 replanting young and medium-sized clams. These efforts were, for 

 the most part, successful. It was demonstrated, hov/ever, that suc- 

 cess could not be attained by planting too near the shore, or in too 

 exposed areas, or in localities where the soil consisted of sand with 

 small amounts of black mud. The lack of food was probably a 

 deciding factor under these conditions. Young and medium-sized 

 clams when transplanted in the rich, black mud readily took hold. 

 The planting was accomplished by digging holes in the mud wdth a 

 pointed stick and dropping the clams in with the siphons up. If 

 large clams were planted, it was found advisable to set them about 

 1 foot below the surface, as they did not readily dig much deeper 

 than they were placed, and if left too near the surface they usually 

 perished. 



Shipments of Mya arenaria were frequently made during all sea- 

 sons of the year from Florence to Eugene in order to test the ship- 

 ping and keeping qualities of the clam under varied conditions. If 

 kept in a warm dry place, the clams will soon die, usually within 24 

 hours. By reducing the temperature of the container in which the 

 clams are kept to near the freezing point, they have been found in 

 good condition at the end of a w^eek, and they have been kept alive 

 for 14 days by being placed directly in contact with the ice. It is 

 obvious that Mya arenaria is a good shipper under proper condi- 

 tions. If transported in refrigerator cars properly iced, there is 

 every reason to believe that Mya might be shipped several hundred 

 miles and still be fit for the market. 



The writer encouraged the use of Mya as a substitute for the red 

 meats in various parts of the Willamette Valley and was gratified 

 to find an increased response on the part of the public in spite of 

 the widespread prejudice against " things that grow in the mud." 

 A number of lectures were given by the writer on the sea-food 

 resources of our northwest coast and the newspapers were used in 

 stimulating an interest in shellfish as food. 



The only other bivalve which may be considered of economic 

 importance appearing in the Siuslaw region is Mytilus edulis. It is 

 not uncommon on the rocks at the mouth of the river and advances 

 at least 4 miles up the stream from its mouth. No attention, how- 

 ever, is given to the mussel in this locality. 



THE YAQITINA REGION. 



The Yaquina region includes the Yaquina River, Yaquina Bay, 

 and the beaches immediately to the north and south of the latter. 

 While the preceding region was characterized by the presence of 

 a single edible clam, besides a sea mussel, here are no less than six 

 species of mollusks besides the western oyster and two sea mussels, 



