4 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



indulge his taste for them; yet even now lobsters are danger- 

 ously near extinction on our coast. But it is the consumer who 

 should be interested, if possible, because from him, through his 

 representatives in the Legislature, must come the action which 

 shall make possible new and intelligent methods of propagation 

 which may preserve the supply. 



Unpleasant facts of this kind, in any case, should be considered 

 seriously by the public-spirited citizen; but his interest would be 

 enlisted, and his support obtained much more readily, if he could 

 be shown some practical way out of the difficulty. 



It has been proved, I think beyond question, that, not only are 

 methods of cultivating the common clam, Mya arenaria, easy and 

 inexpensive, but the results of the labor involved are astonishingly 

 great. " Seed " clams may readily be obtained in many localities. 

 They may, when necessary, be transported from one place to 

 another without injury.. The planting is a simple process. Small 

 individuals may even be sown broadcast on a soft bottom like so 

 much grain. Unlike the oyster, the salinity of the water makes 

 little difference with their growth. Most important of all, their 

 growth is extremely rapid. 



This method of culture, the details of which have been carefully 

 worked out and tested in artificial beds, was developed after a study 

 of the life history, the habits, and the conditions of growth. Every- 

 thing of scientific interest concerning the form has not been 

 investigated. The early stages of development from the egg, for 

 example, are not yet known ; but enough was known to devise an 

 entirely satisfactory and practical method of culture, and this 

 method has been thoroughly tested. 



The question may be asked, why, if the demand is increasing 

 and prices are rising, if the supply has everywhere fallen off, and 

 if a cheap and practical method of culture has been devised, do 

 not those who are interested in supplying the market become clam 

 "farmers," instead of remaining clam-diggers? 



The answer is that ancient laws still leave beaches and flats to 

 the people. They are public grounds where all have equal rights. 

 On them any one may dig at any time. No man has a right to 

 plant and protect his clams, and clam culture is impossible. To 



