xii Contents 



Depletion of the natural beds in Puget Sound Introduc- 

 tion of the Atlantic oyster in San Francisco and Willapa 

 bays Failure of reproduction Low temperature Ac- 

 climatization Stock companies for rearing oysters in 

 Washington 269 



CHAPTER XVIII 



THE SOFT CLAM DISTRIBUTION AND 

 CONDITIONS CONTROLLING IT 



Former abundance in New England Present scarcity 

 Vernacular and " scientific " names Character of clam 

 bottoms Digging clams Action of disturbed clams 

 Conditions necessary for the growth of Mya Effect of a 

 shifting bottom A tenacious soil necessary Clay, a 

 growth of algae thatch Water currents and the food 

 supply Effect of close segregation Good effects of 

 digging Great variation in salinity not harmful 

 Enemies few . . . . 276 



CHAPTER XIX 

 THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE SOFT CLAM 



The breeding season Destruction of the swimming young 

 Settling to the bottom The byssus Attachment and its 

 purposes The creeping period and its dangers Destruc- 

 tion by small starfish Beginning of the burrowing habit 

 Byssus attachment in the burrow and its purpose 

 Atrophy of the byssus Final descent into the ground . 290 



CHAPTER XX 



THE GROWTH OF THE SOFT CLAM AND 

 SOME NOTES ON CLAM CULTURE 



First experiments on the growth of Mya The plan followed 

 Determination of the amount of growth Specific 

 example Table showing growth of planted clams Ex- 

 periments by the Massachusetts Fish and Game Commis- 

 sion Early attempts at clam culture The Bridgeport 

 experiment Towns allowed to rent flats The Essex 

 experiment Peculiarities of the clam set Immense 

 segregations and their causes Sources of seed for plant- 

 ing How seed clams may be planted Amount of seed 

 to be used Barren flats available in Massachusetts 

 Public and private ownership of clam shores Present 

 absurd laws Advantages of clam culture not possessed 



