6o8 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



• 



dition, an increase in the quantity and an improvement of the quality 

 of flesh arc aimed at, though this is brought about in higher animals 

 by a careful selection, in many successive generations, of breeding 

 individuals. The whole industry must be built up on an artificial 

 basis, and the first step is to discover in detail the habits and needs 

 of the animals in the natural state. 



Tlie same is true of marine food animals. The history of the re- 

 establishment of their supply shows that in every case almost com- 

 plete destruction has been threatened before any move has been 

 made to improve matters. While a more or less extensive close 

 season operates favorably in some cases, it usually fails permanently 

 to correct the evil condition. While in operation, it suspends the 

 supply altogether. At times it seems to be a necessity in order to 

 prevent complete annihilation; but, if artificial methods were de- 

 veloped early enough, it would not be necessary. 



Food supply and proper environment are obviously more obscure 

 in the case of marine than of terrestrial forms, and in many instances 

 are almost entirely unknown. It is surprising to find how true this 

 is even with food animals with which we have long been familiar. 

 But before artificial methods of culture can be developed, it is of 

 course necessary to know the animal's habits and its relations to 

 its surroundings, and to understand all the necessary conditions 

 thoroughly. It is the necessity for this preliminary scientific work 

 that is probably least understood by the public. This work is 

 sometimes slow, and not always productive of economic results, 

 but it is always the necessary first step in developing culture 

 methods. 



MYA ARENARIA 



Soft clam, or long-neck 

 It has been, and still is assumed that nature is so lavish in her 

 supply of certain animals that man is unable greatly to diminish their 

 number, much less to cause actual extinction. This is a dangerous 

 belief, but still very common. The lesson of the buffalo and wild 

 pigeon, whose countless multitudes have been known to men of 

 this generation, is not heeded. Scores of similar cases apparently 

 have not lessened man's presumption. 



