OF MASSACHUSETTS. 175 



natural sets. If this is done, the barren flats of Massachusetts can be 

 made productive. 



The main difficulty is in devising some method of obtaining the small 

 clams with sufficient rapidity. As the nature of the soil and the size of 

 the clams vary, no one method can apply to every case, and it depends 

 upon the ingenuity of the clammer. The methods used at present are: 

 (1) digging with an ordinary clam hoe, which is slow work; (2) digging 

 in shallow Avater, so that the clams may be washed out; (3) digging 

 a series of trenches across the heavy set area, and scooping out the 

 clams washed in these trenches; (4) carrying both sand and clams by 

 the dory load; (5) by using a sieve, in the form of a cradle, which 

 washes the clams out in the water. This last method is the most suc- 

 cessful for small clams, and has been used by the commission in obtain- 

 ing seed clams for their experimental beds. By using a cradle 3 by 2 

 feet, covered with sand wire netting, clams which ran 3,000 per quart, 

 were obtained by 3 men at the rate of 2 bushels an hour, an amount 

 sufficient to plant from ^5 to ^o of an acre. 



Another problem of importance is the transportation of seed clams, 

 as in many instances the clams will have to be carried some distance. 

 The best method of shipping seed clams is to pack them dry in damp sea 

 weed, putting them in small packages, so they will not be crushed by 

 their own weight. The best though most expensive method is to pack 

 the clams in crates, such as are used for strawberries. It has been 

 found that clams kept in water are not in such good condition as those 

 shipped dry, and it is of the utmost importance that the clams be in 

 good condition when planted. 



The length of time a clam will live out of its natural element depends 

 upon the temperature; in cold weather it will keep for several days, 

 and even weeks; while in warm weather the seed clam will be in poor 

 condition after one day's exposure. 



Preparing the Grant. Usually the ground needs no preparation, 

 and the clams can be planted at once. It is a good plan to remove any 

 mussels and any of the enemies of the clam from the grant. 



Planting the Clams, The planting of the seed clams is perhaps the 

 easiest work of the clam culturist, as it necessitates merely the sowing 

 of the seed on the surface of the flat. The small clams when left this 

 way burrow into the ground as soon as the water is over them, and 

 require no planting on the part of the culturist. 



Working the Farm. This style of farming requires no cultivation 

 for the growth of the clams. Once planted, the farmer has no further 

 work until the time when he is ready to dig them. The clams grow 

 better when undisturbed than when the soil is upturned by frequent 

 digging. Protection from man and the natural enemies of the clam 

 demand the attention of the owner at all times. 



Harvesting the Clams. The time of digging will vary as to the 

 size of clam desired and the rate of growth on the grant. The clam 



