4 8 



RECREA TION. 



ANSWER. 



The fish you describe is apparently the 

 Dolly Varden trout, Salvclinus parkei. If 

 it has red spots it is certainly that species. 

 The steelhead has no red spots. The Dolly 

 Varden trout is just such a fighter as you 

 describe. It reaches a length of about 2 

 feet and a weight of 2 to 12 pounds. — 

 Editor. 



RAISING CLAMS. 



Little neck clams, clam chowder, clam 

 fritters, and other appetizing dishes are 

 for many an important part of the sum- 

 mer diet. Clams are not unlike oysters in 

 composition and food value. They con- 

 tain about 83 per cent of water, 10 per cent 

 of protein, and furnish about 275 calories 

 per pound. Every effort should be made 

 to insure a supply of clams for the future. 

 A recent bulletin of the Rhode Island Sta- 

 tion calls attention to the rapid disappear- 

 ance of the long clam, formerly so abund- 

 ant on the shores of New England. The 

 causes of disappearance are: (1) A de- 

 mand exceeding the supply; (2) a con- 

 tinued diminution of "breeders," resulting 

 in a decreasing "set" ; (3) indiscriminate 

 turning over of the flats, resulting in the 

 destruction of a large proportion of the 

 young, unmarketable clams ; and (4) the 

 destruction of breeding grounds by the 

 dumping of refuse, factory wastes, and 

 sewage in rivers and coast waters. If 

 something can be done to prevent the de- 

 struction of young clams, the first 2 

 causes of disappearance will be lessened 

 and the result will be immediately felt in 

 a larger supply of clams and a fall in 

 price consequent upon the increased and 

 cheapened production, which will be a bene- 

 fit to the entire population. 



" Clams flourish not only on open sea- 

 coast where sufficient protection is offered 

 against the shifting sands, but even far 

 from the sea, in the brackish bays and 

 estuaries. Indeed, areas of brackish 

 water having a suitable bottom are the 

 most prolific in clams, since in such locali- 

 ties grow the greatest abundance of micro- 

 scopic plants (diatoms) and every such 

 area which is exposed at low tide should 

 be utilized for growing clams. 



"The clam is even better adapted than 

 the oyster for artificial cultivation. The 

 chances of failure in the 'set' are smaller; 

 the number of enemies is fewer: the cost 

 of getting a 'set of seed' is smaller; and 

 the cost of planting is eliminated ; for, if 

 the bottom is suitable, clams can not be 

 kept out. The cost of digging 'may equal 

 or perhaps be somewhat larger than that 

 of dredging oysters on an extensive scale. 

 Most important of all is the extreme sim- 

 plicity of the cultural operations : with the 

 conditions once secured, nothing remains 



but the harvesting. An acre of good clam 

 ground' should yield annually 500 bushels 

 of marketable bivalves. 



"A clam farm should consist of several 

 divisions. The preserve, or ground for 

 breeders, where mature clams are kept in 

 numbers sufficient to seed the rest of the 

 farm without further attention. The proper 

 number may be determined by experiment. 

 Patches of seaweed should be left to fur- 

 nish points of attachment for the young 

 clams. The balance of the farm should be 

 divided into sections, to be dug only on 

 successive years, allowing 3 or 4 years 

 between digging the same area, thus 

 preventing the destruction of the young 

 clams. This plan, if pursued, will add con- 

 siderably to the market value of the clams, 

 as the marketable clams on each area will 

 be of nearly uniform size, but of a differ- 

 ent size on every other area, so that the 

 most satisfactory size for any particular 

 use will be available." 



CAMPING IN WISCONSIN. 



The camping season is again upon us, 

 and the trout fishing is good. 



A small camping party, consisting of Mr. 

 and Mrs. James Nolan, of Escanaba, 

 Mich.; Miss Bessie Bacon, of Chicago; 

 Mrs. C. G. Shepherd and son, George, of 

 Lathrop, and Mr. C. M. Shepherd, former- 

 ly a resident of Indiana, spent a few days 

 recently on the East branch of the Escan- 

 aba river, 2 miles West of Sands, Mar- 

 quette County, Mich., along the line of 

 the C. & N. W. Ry. They left their homes 

 early in the forenoon and reached Sands 

 about noon. There they were met by a 

 team and driven to their camping ground, 

 arriving there about 2 o'clock. Their 

 camp was quickly made, and the remainder 

 of the evening they spent in catching 

 trout. The trout there do not keep one 

 standing for hours waiting for a nibble, 

 but take the hook eagerly. 



I was unable to accompany the party, but 

 followed later. All were up early the fol- 

 lowing morning, and while breakfast was 

 being prepared I was off up the bank of 

 the river endeavoring to supply the frying 

 pan for breakfast. In less than an hour I 

 returned with 16 trout, which were at once 

 prepared and heartily eaten. 



They measured about 10 inches each, and 

 were as fine as any man nee 1 want. 



Recreation- was, of course, enioyed by 

 all as our reading matter. All fishing or 

 hunting parties should make it a rule to 

 take a few conies of this magazine along on 

 their trips. By reading it they will learn 

 to despise the game hog, to quit when they 

 have enough. We are proud to sav we do 

 not belong in the game hog pen. I would 

 rather one of our party should be called a 

 chicken thief than a game hog. 



