American Fislicrics Society. lyo 



in some localities ihcre are very g-rcat quantities oi vounrj clams 

 set early in July which, if not taken up and transplanted, are 

 destroyed by shiftinc;^ sand or from some other cause. In other 

 localities the clams are set too thick to grow to the best advan- 

 tage, and they would actually be benefited by being thinned out. 



7. It seems almost certain that the explanation of the abun- 

 dant set in a limited area, and the meagre set in the neighboring 

 localities, is to be sought in the position of the shore with refer- 

 ence to the tides. When this ex]danation has been worked out in 

 detail it may be possible artificially to construct and ])lace ai)par- 

 atus to collect the set in equally large quantities. 



8. The experiments of transplanting have demonstrated 

 that under favtirable conditions the rate of growth is more rapid 

 than is usually supposed, some of the June set having reached 

 a length of n>early two inches by the middle of September. The 

 experim.ents demonstrate also, the fact that there are great differ- 

 ences in the rate of growth according to the food supnl\- which is 

 obtained from the water, and that the most rapid growth may 

 be expected of clams which are under water most of the time. 



9. The size and age at which the clam reaches sexual ma- 

 turitv is obviously a problem of considerable imi)urtance. It is 

 the general opinion, and has been sometimes stated in print, that 

 thev do not spaw'n until the third year. That this opinion is 

 erroneous there can be no doubt. The clams of last year set at 

 W'ickford station were ri])e this year and the eggs from these 

 spvcimens were artificially fertilized. 



The observations from the same station indicate clearly that 

 (I) the clams would again be abundant upon our shores could 

 they receive, for only a few years rest from the unreasonable 

 and promiscuous digging. (2) From the biological point of view 

 clam culture is as practicable and feasible as oyster culture. The 

 legislative question — the control of shore by private individuals 

 is, to be sure, another story. 



