The Hard Clam 331 



of settling from the swimming- condition seems to be 

 identical in the two cases. There are certain isolated 

 coves and bays on the New England shore, however, 

 where young quahaugs are sometimes raked up in vast 

 numbers — usually to be sold for planting in Long Island, 

 a practice that has recently been begun there. Thus the 

 price of seed may be high, though the clam is abundant 

 enough in its scattered distribution. 



It will probably be found, however, that the few dis- 

 advantages are more than counterbalanced by peculiar 

 advantages. Venus, for example, is one of the hardiest 

 of bivalves. It is not only peculiarly insensible to 

 changes in temperature and salinity, but it withstands 

 long exposure to the air, even in hot weather, without 

 apparent injury. Shipments to distant markets or plant- 

 ing grounds may thus be effected without loss. Again, 

 there is a market during the entire year, and on the 

 greater part of the Atlantic coast, and in the Gulf of 

 Mexico, weather conditions would not interfere seriously 

 with raking. 



The territory available for quahaug culture also is 

 greater than for that of the soft clam. The only labor 

 involved will be that of taking the seed and marketable 

 individuals from their shallow burrows in the bottom. 

 Planting in all cases may be accomplished as easily as in 

 oyster culture, for quahaugs of all sizes arc able to bur- 

 row when thrown on the bottom. 



It may be of interest to speculate on the actual returns 

 that should be expected by an energetic and reasonably 

 cautious planter, who might now be able to lay out his 

 quahaug or little neck beds in New England waters. 

 When ordinarily favorable conditions obtain, he would 

 plant on an acre at least one hundred and twenty bushels 



