CLAM AND SCALLOP INDUSTRIES 62I 



impracticable, and in the case of the clam, the operation is certainly 

 quite unnecessar}^, as will be shown. 



2 Tenacity of life in the young clam. The adult dies quickly in 

 aquariums in warm weather. Very small individuals are, on the con- 

 trary, very tenacious of life. They have been carried in an open 

 bucket from Narragansett bay to Buzzards bay in the hottest days 

 of summer, and, though the water in which they were transported 

 became very warm, they had suffered no apparent injury when 

 placed once more in cold water. Not only so, but many, subse- 

 quently kept in shallow dishes without change of water, lived for 

 days after a bacteria zoogloea had formed over them. For purposes 

 of planting, then, the young clams may be transported easily for 

 long distances without harm. 



3 Effect of water of differing degrees of salinity. Fortunately 

 for the clam culturist, the adult M y a will thrive not only in water 

 which is very salt, but also in that which is nearly fresh. At Woods 

 Hole (Mass.) for example, where the salinity is great (about 1.024), 

 many recent experiments have shown a remarkable rate of growth. 

 Other regions have been observed where the degree of salinity is 

 seldom more than 1.005, i^ which clams seemed to flourish equally 

 well. 



Not only is this true, but acclimatization is not necessary when a 

 change is made from one locality to another. Many recent experi- 

 ments, besides the one just referred to, show this to be true. Many, 

 if not most, marine animals are very sensitive to changes in the 

 saltness of the water. The fact that the soft clam is not so affected, 

 even by a sudden transfer, is not only interesting of itself, but its 

 significance in the development of a method of clam culture is evi- 

 dently of the greatest importance. Many clam flats, today prac- 

 tically barren, may be planted with clams taken from any other 

 locality without reference to the salinity of the water in either place. 



4 Character of the beach or flat favorable for growth. M y a 



gTows well in soils of many sorts. Some of the best clam flats are 

 composed largely of sand. Flats also often contain quantities of 

 fine mud. These of course are more favorable for planting because 



