393 



Cox, Philip. 1916. 



A supposed disease of quahaugs from New Brunswick. Contr. Can. Biol. Fish: 

 73-79. 



The investigation was made because Venus (Meroenaria) meroenaria shipped from 

 Buctouche to Chicago and New York suffered unusual mortalities in 1914, with 

 losses up to 60% during shipment. The consignees reported the stock 

 diseased, and refused further shipments. Clams were stored in floating trays 

 at beginning of season, when harvest was greatest, until they were shipped to 

 market. The water in which they were stored had higher temp and lower 

 salinity, and circulation was poor. Handling methods were poor, and clams 

 were subject to relatively great temp changes over extended periods of time. 

 The conclusion was fairly obvious that improved handling methods would reduce 

 mortalities, and experimental studies tended to confirm this conclusion. No 

 evidence of disease was found. The following questions were suggested for 

 research: 1) at what age and size are quahogs sexually mature, and do large 

 and small clams spawn at the same time? 2) what proportion of clams of 

 various sizes die normally each year, and does death usually follow spawning? 

 3) what is the effect of retention of ova in clams held out of water? 4) how 

 do clams harvested at beginning of season (in May) compare with those on 

 native beds, and what is the effect of storage on development of reproductive 

 organs? - J.L.M. 



399 



Craig, Sally. 1967. 



Toxic ions in bivalves. J. Am. Osteopath. Assn. 66(9): 1000-1002. 



Pb, Hg, and Cu residues were determined in Venus meroenaria and Spisula sp. 

 from Woods Hole, Mass. and Cape Henlopen, Delaware Bay. Concentrations of 

 all 3 metals were higher in quahogs from Woods Hole (Woods Hole: Pb 2.57 

 ppm/clam, Cu 19.23 ppm, Hg 2.71 ppm; Cape Henlopen: Pb 1.09 ppm/clam, Cu 

 0.91 ppm, Hg 1.11 ppm). Average size of Woods Hole clams was greater 

 (29.92 g vs 16.01 g for Cape Henlopen - presumably meat weights). - J.L.M. 



400 



Crane, Jules M. , Jr., Larry G. Allen, and Connie Eisemann. 1975. 



Growth rate, distribution, and population density of the northern quahog 

 Meroenaria meroenaria in Long Beach, California. Calif. Fish Game 61 

 (2) : 68-81. 



A population of Meroenaria meroenaria unique to the west coast is well estab- 

 lished in a lagoon in Long Beach, Calif., probably from introductions in 

 1951-1954 or later. Total population was estimated at 300,000 to 500,000 

 individuals. Density reaches 556 clams/m 2 . They appear to be outcompeting 

 other species for food and by being able to survive greater environmental 

 stress. Growth rates averaged 7.2 mm/yr with a gain of 2 5.3 g/yr. Most 

 rapid growth was in smaller (80 mm) clams. Most are in water more than 3 ft 

 deep at low water. Most growth was from June to Nov. The lagoon has been 

 closed to clamming since March 1971. The lagoon should be closed to clamming 

 for 4 yrs, and bag and size limits established prior to opening. - J.L.M. 



401 



Crenshaw, Miles A. 1972. 



The soluble matrix from Meraenaria meraenaria shell. ForschBer. Biomineral. 

 Akad. Wiss. Lit., Mainz (Biomineral. Res. Rept.) 6: 6-11. 



A water-soluble glycoprotein isolated from hard clam shell accounted for 

 about 15% of the organic matrix. It was evenly distributed through the 

 shell and was not destroyed when powdered shell was treated with aqueous 

 sodium hypochlorite. Apparent molecular weight of the soluble matrix was 

 160,000. Weight ratio of protein/hexosamine/uronic acid was 165/20/1. 

 Ester sulfate/hexosamine molar ratio was 1.8/1. Of total amino acid 

 residues, 30% was aspartic acid, 16% glycine, and 10% serine. Aspartic 



111 



