APPENDIX III APPENDIX III 
Surf clams have recently accounted for over 75 percent of 
total clam landings but only about 30 percent of the total 
value. Virginia, for the fourth consecutive year, led in surf 
clam landings with 39.1 million pounds, a 33-percent decrease 
from 1974. New Jersey was second with 35.6 million pounds of 
meats, a 57-percent increase over 1974. These two States 
have historically accounted for the majority of surf clam 
landings. Table 2 shows 1975 clam landings by State. The 
majority of surf clams in recent years have been caught in 
offshore waters. For years 1973, 1974, and 1975 preliminary 
data shows that 88.2 percent, 77.4 percent, and 50.9 percent, 
respectively, were landed beyond 3 miles off the coast. 
Hard clam landings have been consistently between 14 to 
17 million pounds annually and have averaged about 15 percent 
of the total clam catch. This species, however, has accounted 
for about 50 percent of the value of all clam landings. New 
York, with over half of the catch, is the leading hard-clam- 
producing State; New Jersey is second. Hard clams are har- 
vested almost entirely within 3 miles of the coast. Less 
than 1 percent were harvested beyond this distance in years 
ILS) 7/3} ero). IMS) 7/3) 
In 1975 Maine continued as the leading soft-clam-produc- 
ing State with about 75 percent of the total landings of 8.8 
million pounds. Maryland was the leading soft-clam-producing 
State until 1972 when Hurricane Agnes caused extensive damage 
to the resource. Since that time production has been relative- 
ly low. For example, 1975 preliminary data shows Maryland's 
landings at about 1.1 million pounds in comparison to 6 million 
pounds landed in 1971. 
Washington in 1975 produced about 99 percent of total 
Pacific coast hard and soft clam landings of 670,000 pounds 
valued at $342,000. All clam landings along the Pacific 
coast were obtained inside 3 miles of the shore. 
Several other clam species comprise the "other clam" 
category, including the cockle, geoduck, ocean quahog, rangia, 
razor, and sunray venus. In 1975 landings for this group 
amounted to 524,000 pounds and were valued at $275,000 or 
about 1 percent of domestic production. 
The surf clam is the only major clam resource harvested 
beyond 12 miles off the coast, and since it has the protec- 
tion of being a continental shelf fishery resource, there is 
no foreign directed clam fishery off the U.S. coasts. 
Fishing fleet 
Surf clams are harvested using vessels towing 
dredges. The hydraulic jet dredge is the main 
piece of surf-clam-harvesting gear. Dredges are towed 
46 
