92 INLAND FISHERIES. 



such a way that the swimming hirva? might be iuducecl to attach 

 to some suitable object, which should be convenient to handle, 

 when it is suspended in the water containing the embryos. This 

 has been accomplished with some degree of success in the oyster, 

 where artificial fertilization may be brought about with very great 

 ease. There are some lamellibranchs, however, in which it seems 

 to be absolutely impossible to induce this union of the sexual cells, 

 and this may be the case with the clam. Even if it were so, 

 sexually mature individuals might be placed in enclosed localities, 

 where large numbers of the young could be collected. 



(b) Tenacity of life. 



While the adult Myti dies easily in aquaria, if not occasionally 

 allowed to lie exposed, or if the water becomes foul, the small 

 clams are very tenacious of life. Early in July, 1898, a bucket full 

 of Enteroiiioiyha, covered with clams, was taken from the water 

 at the Kickemuit Narrows at eleven o'clock in the forenoon of a 

 hot daj\ This was carried to Woods Hole, Massachusetts, arriv- 

 ing at four in the afternoon, the water in the bucket having become 

 very warm. These clams were transferred directly to the much 

 colder sea water in the hatching house of the U. S. Fish Com- 

 mission station. None of them seemed to be in the least injured 

 by their rough treatment, and they lived in very slowly running 

 water for over a month, when they were removed. In this case, 

 no care having been taken to make the conditions favorable, they 

 did not seem to thrive, and certain individuals, measured from 

 time to time, showed little, or in some cases, no growth. However, 

 some of these individuals, after remaining a mouth in the hatch- 

 ing house, were placed in small glass dishes which were allowed 

 to stand until the water had nearlj^ evaporated, and a zooglea 

 mass had formed on top of it, and they remained alive under these 

 conditions for many days. These facts seem to indicate that the 

 small clams are very hardy, and, if desirable in culture work, 

 could easily be transported without injury. 



