FOURTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 



This clam, Glycimeris generosa'^, by far the largest found on 

 either coast of North America, was first described by Dr. 

 Augustus A. Gould from specimens (probably of the shells only) 

 obtained by the exploring expedition commanded by Commo- 

 dore Charles Wilkes, during his famous cruise in the years 1838 

 to 1842, inclusive. 



It was detected in Puget Sound and subsequently collected in 

 Awatska Bay, Kamschatka, by the North Pacific Exploring 

 Expedition, under command of Commanders Ringgold and 

 Rodgers; the late Dr. Willam Stimpson was the naturalist of 

 the latter expedition. 



The range of distribution, it will be noticed, is quite extensive 

 as from the above points in the North Pacific it extends south- 

 erly along the west coast of America to San Diego, California, 

 where it has been found by Mr. Hemphill. A range northerly 

 and southerly twenty degrees of latitude. It is apparently 

 much more abundant in the north than in the south, for Mr. 

 Hemphill states that in the southern locality I have named, in 

 the course of several years he had not been able to find more 

 than a dozen. 



From Capt. J. S. Lawson, of the U. S. Coast Survey, I learned 

 some years ago of its frequent occurrence in Budd's Inlet, 

 Washington Territory; from others residing in the same general 

 neighborhood I had heard of its presence at various points in 

 Puget Sound. 



Aside from its large size, which would naturally attract atten- 

 tion, its excellence as an article of food is attested by all who 

 have eaten it, and it holds by common consent a place in the 

 front rank, in the opinion of the epicures of the northwest coast. 



In the spring of 1882, Professor Baird, being desirous of ob- 

 taining further and more definite information as to the 9ccur- 

 rence, habits, quality and abundance, etc., of Glychneris or 

 geoduck, t as it is called by the Indians, and also more special 

 knowledge of the principle (so-called) clams of the region, I 



*'Ss\.yvao\o%y— Glycimeris from ghikous, sweet, meris, bitter g:enerosa, from its ample size, 

 etc. Sometimes placed in the genus Pano/'cea, from Panope a nereid, ancient mythology. 



t Accent the second syllable and pronounce hurriedly, with a hard g and a short o, as 

 if spelled ge-wo'; gewo'duck. 



