Edible Mollusca of the Oregon Coast 193 
slight possibility of these species becoming important fresh food 
products of inland markets in the near future. According to 
Field, cited above, the pickling of sea mussels has become an 
industry on the Atlantic coast, and as indicated by the census 
report, referred to in the introduction of this paper, they are 
being canned to some extent in California. The mussels of the 
Oregon coast have not found their way into the markets in any 
form and are used in very insignificant quantities by local con- 
sumers. 
As it is evident that few of the clams and sea mussels of the 
northwest coast can be placed on inland markets as fresh products, 
it would seem, therefore, that methods of converting them into 
articles of trade locally might be employed to advantage. In the 
opinion of the writer, the clams of the Oregon coast are of insuffi- 
cient quantity to enable any of the species to long stand the strain 
of being subjected to the usual demands of a cannery running at 
full capacity throughout the year and utilizing only these products. 
It is believed, however, that canneries of more general character, 
if the cost of equipment would permit, capable of handling not 
only clams and mussels but fish, berries and other produce during 
the seasons of the year, might be established and run on a pay- 
ing basis in the vicinity of Netarts Bay, Yaquina Bay, on the 
lower Siuslaw River and on Coos Bay. Fish canneries are in 
operation at some of these points but none, I believe, are handling 
shellfish at the present time. 
SPAWNING PERIODS AND GROWTH. 
1. Siliqua patula Dixon. 
As a result of microscopic examinations of the sex organs 
at different periods of the year it is evident that the razor clam 
spawns during the summer months. The exact limits of the 
period, however, have not been definitely determined at this time. 
An examination of male clams on January 28th revealed the 
condition of the spermaries characteristic of this species during 
the winter months. Spermatocytes were observed to be in various 
stages of development but no mature spermatozoa could be 
detected. On May toth spermatozoa were fully formed but showed 
[ 17] 
