192 Edible Mollusca of the Oregon Coast 
5. Cardium corbis Martyn. 
This species is very short lived when removed from the salt 
water and, although it has a very hard shell, is a very poor mar- 
ket clam. It occurs in considerable abundance in both Tilla- 
mook and Yaquina Bays but its poor shipping qualities would 
make impractical attempts to market the species in a fresh con- 
dition at any great distance from either of the above localities. 
Its food value is chiefly a local one, although it is one of the 
chief sources of supply for the cannery at Tillamook City. 
6. Saxidomus giganteus Deshayes. 
Netarts Bay is the only locality on the Oregon coast in which 
this species can be obtained in any numbers and even there in 
1919 the clam had become so depleted that comparatively few 
could be had. At the present time the supply is too meager to 
meet the demands of local consumers and the nearby markets of 
Tillamook City. This clam is one of the best of shippers, having 
a very hard, thick shell and is fairly long lived, the valves of the 
shell closing tightly preventing rapid evaporation of water. Meas- 
ures should be taken toward the cultivation of this species in 
Netarts Bay and elsewhere, as it represents one of the best of 
our edible clams. 
7. Mytilus edulis Linnaeus. 
8. Mytilus Californicus Conrad. 
It has been the experience of the writer, as well as of others, 
that sea mussels cannot be preserved long in a fresh condition 
after being removed from the water. Field’ was not able to keep 
Mytilus edulis in an ice chest longer than 24 hrs. but suggests 
that improved methods could probably be devised for preserving 
the species in cold storage for a sufficient length of time to 
enable it to reach inland markets. 
With the indirect transportation facilities from Oregon coast 
points where the sea mussels are in greatest abundance, there is 
; * Field, I. A. The Food Value of Sea Mussels, Bulletin of the U. S. Bureau of 
Fisheries, Vol. 29, 1909, Doc. No. 742, Feb. 24, 1911. 
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