REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 31 
planting-ground and sowed broadcast» The experiments were 
varied by keeping the seed for different lengths of time between 
collecting and sowing, and by keeping them sometimes dry and 
sometimes in water ; by sowing with varying conditions of the tide 
—sometimes upon the bare ground at ebb tide, and sometimes upon 
the water; by sowing in windy and calm weather; by digging up 
the soil, or leaving it unmolested ; and by sowing at different times 
of the day, an item which may be of impertance because of the 
greater abundance of eels and other enemies at night. It is prob- 
able that nearly every one of these factors will influence the result 
of these experiments. 
Besides the land thus occupied and staked out, several strips 
were planted on the shores, which will probably be dug up by the 
clammers. This was done in order to test the efficiency of sowing 
where the digging is not interrupted, 
The accompanying table gives the main facts in regard to the 
thirteen experiments of this kind. In experiments numbered 10, 11, 
12, and 13, the plots were not staked out or in any way protected. 
It will not be possible, until next summer, to find out how far the 
experiments are successful, but already very encouraging evidence 
has been forthcoming in samples taken from some of the beds late 
in the winter. 
It is to be expected that some of the experiments will be failures 
so far as the product is concerned, but these may be the more use- 
ful in indicating what precautions should be taken and what errors 
should be corrected. There is reason to expect some degree of 
success in other sections, and if this proves to be the case an 
important step will have been taken in clam-propagation which 
will, perhaps, warrant still further attempts on a more extensive 
scale. 
