50 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I916. 



methods of analysis, it is not at all difficult to ascertain whether 

 clams have been soaked or not, and clams opened under proper 

 conditions, washed but not soaked, show an analysis of free 

 liquids not more than 10% and total solids not less than 18%. 

 A typical example of an analysis for a sample, purchased at a 

 Portland market, which was properly shucked and washed with- 

 out soaking showed free liquids 6.45 and total solids 21.76. 



During the past season, as soon as a general sampling of clams 

 was commenced and the reports of analyses returned, it became 

 apparent that the method of dispensing clams needed more 

 thorough investigation and an attempt was made to determine 

 the source of such supply and from what source this food 

 product was being supplied in its greatest quantity. An attempt 

 was also made to visit and inspect the premises of the whole- 

 sale dealers and definitely determine their methods of shucking 

 and preparing their product for market. As a result a very 

 good idea of the proportions of the clam industry in this state 

 and the statistics concerning it have been gathered. It was 

 found that during the past winter from Pine Point in the town 

 of Scarboro aside from the clams that were dug in that vicinity, 

 approximately five thousand barrels of clams in the shell were 

 received from points east, covering a territory as far as Saint 

 Andrews, N. B. These clams, when received in Pine Point, 

 were shucked by the dealers there and shipped to both intra and 

 interstate points, and the examination of the freight records 

 shows that the cities of Boston, Lowell, Worcester, Lawrence 

 and Lynn, in Massachusetts, Manchester, N. H. and Providence, 

 R. I., were supplied extensively by dealers in this place. It 

 was also learned that the cities of the Kennebec valley in the 

 State of Maine and other cities of the state were being supplied 

 from this source. It was learned that clams were also being 

 supplied in considerable quantity from Sorrento, Chebeague and 

 other islands in Portland Harbor, through the wholesalers in 

 Portland, and in small quantities from the vicinity of Popham, 

 Bay Point, Friendship and Medomack. 



In the course of inspection a few cases have been reported 

 where the dealers in direct violation of the food standards have 

 been found offering for sale clams with a piece of ice" in the 

 container and in direct contact with the clams ; in all instances 

 the offenders have been cited to hearings and the cases settled ; 



