A NEW COMER. 207 



nature was known, and it multiplied so exceedingly 

 that soon specimens could be gathered by the hun- 

 dred. Next to the Oyster, it is by far the most 

 important food mollusk sold in the markets of San 

 Francisco. 



Its sudden appearance in these waters was doubtless 

 due to the introduction of a few specimens in con- 

 nection with the barrels of young oysters which were 

 imported soon after the completion of the Pacific 

 railroad. These young oysters were planted in the 

 bay; they grew finely, but propagated feebly. The 

 clams, on the other hand, though coming here by 

 accident, found the situation quite to their liking, 

 and the mud flats for miles around soon became 

 thickly inhabited by their rapidly maturing descend- 

 ants. 



Fig. 177. 



Although not quite so good for food as the more 

 aristocratic oyster, the ]\Iya furnishes the basis of a 

 delicious chowder which can be afforded by all. 

 Already this Rhode Island clam is crowding out the 

 Macoma of the Indians, even as the eastern whites 

 have already built their cities on the red man's hunt- 

 ing grounds. Even among mollusks — 



" Westward the star of the empire takes its waj- . " 



