212 Clams Plentiful, Size and as Scavengers and Food. 



prefer, however, the mud soil of the estuaries, where the water 

 is brackish. In walking along the sandy mud in many spots 

 they abound, and their biggish holes, with an ejection of water 

 from them, tell of their residence. They usually are sunk 

 from a few inches to a foot deep, according to age, and with 

 their rugged leathery water-tubes or syphons occasionally stuck 

 up close to the surface. 



The average size of the adult forms dug up for food or bait 

 is about 4 by 2 inches. The largest we have met with have 

 been 5 by 2f inches and If inches thick. An extreme case men- 

 tioned to us by a clammer was between 6 and 7 inches greatest 

 diameter. The smallest clams got by us have been little over 

 1 by f inch in diameter, and we have a series running upwards. 

 Young shells lying about are usually only 2 by If inches and 

 much worn and eroded. As a rule, only dead shells are got on 

 the surface mud, but in the guts and muddy runlets we have 

 now and again come across an adult living specimen of full size. 



Our examination of early stages and growth is scanty. The 

 clammers say they are in best condition late in the autumn, 

 and believe they are early winter breeders, though others aver 

 June and July to be the spawning season. 



The clam is a scavenger by trade, and feeds on varied waste 

 surface material, infusoria, algee, diatoms, fragmentary hydro- 

 zoa, &c. The layer of clyty London clay in which they reside is 

 too surely black and filthy, and when the clams are dug up 

 their appearance is anything but inviting ; but kept for a 

 night or a day in pure water they soon cleanse themselves, and 

 tone down wonderfully in colour. 



Clams are not a favourite diet, though well washed and 

 properly cooked they are not to be despised, and they form a 

 cheap and wholesome food, besides being good bait, fresh or 

 salted. At odd times one finds men of the labouring class 

 having a clam hunt in view of home consumption ; otherwise 

 few persons follow clamming as a matter of profession for 

 selling them to the public. (See Sect. VI.) 



