OYSTERS, CLAMS, MUSSELS 



223 



produced into a long neck-like process. This enables the clam 

 to bore into the mud or sand for some distance and still 

 keep the end of the siphon in the water. Those who have 

 never been near the sea-shore where they could take part in a 

 clam-bake have at least enjoyed their clam chowder in their 

 inland homes even if it were made from the canned article. 

 Hardly a beach along any of our coast lines but furnishes an 

 abundance of one or more species of clams. Along the North 

 Atlantic coast the soft clam, Mya arenaria, is one of the most 



FIG. 101. The common sea-mussel, Mytilus edulis L. (Reduced.) 



important of the clams. At one time it occurred in seemingly 

 unlimited numbers, but on account of wasteful and destructive 

 methods of gathering them many of the best beds are now 

 nearly depleted. Most of these tide flats may be made to 

 yield abundant supplies again under the methods of cultiva- 

 tion and protection that are now being adopted in some 

 places. 



The hard clam, or quohog, or little-neck clam, Venus 

 mercenaria, is the most important clam from New York south- 

 ward. Unlike the soft clam, whose shell is comparatively 

 light and often does not close tightly along the edge, the hard 

 clam has a heavy shell that closes very firmly. 



