490 



Dow, R. L. 1965. 



Shellfish survey methods. Maine Dept. Sea Shore Fish., Tech. Bull. 1, 14 p. 



(Abstracter's note: the copy in our hands did not include the title page. It 

 is likely that the author's name was given as Robert L. Dow.) Three principal 

 methods were used to make population estimates of Mercenaria mercenaries and 

 My a arenaria: 1) compass and chain, 2) plane table, and 3) photo-enlarged 

 shoreline survey. These methods are described and their advantages and 

 disadvantages compared. About 143.5 acres were surveyed. Estimated pop- 

 ulations were 38,242 bu of soft clams 1 inch in diam or larger. Production 

 from these grounds was 36,734 bu. Range of error was from -6% to +26.7%. 

 Density of Venus averaged 1,508.83 bu/acre, with a range of error from -3.7% 

 to +9%. Type of sediment had little or no effect on accuracy of estimates. 

 Estimates from large areas were most accurate. If the sampling fraction is 

 1/12,000 or greater, the error of estimate may be expected to be no greater 

 than - 10%. All Venus estimates were made by plane table. Data for the 3 

 grounds surveyed were: 1) 3.3 acres, est. pop. 6,637 bu, production based on 

 resurvey 6,887 bu, production/acre 2,086.97 bu; 2) 5.1 acres, est. pop. 8,253 

 bu, production based on resurvey 7,568 bu , production/acre 1,483.92 bu; 3) 

 7.0 acres, est. pop. 9,193 bu, production based on resurvey 8,781 bu, 

 production/acre 1,254.43 bu. - J.L.M. 



491 



Dow, Robert L. 1970. 



The need for specific sanitary requirements for various species of shellfish. 

 Paper presented at U.S. Public Health Service National Conference on 

 Shellfish Sanitation, Sept. 9-10, 1954 (retyped May 1970), 2 p. 



Hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaries) , blue mussel, soft clam, and American oyster 

 behave bacteriologically and otherwise differently from each other. Some 

 differences are environmental: location in relation to bottom; in relation to 

 tidal zone; and influence of water quality on survival and well-being. Other 

 biological and physiological differences are reflected in growth rates, 

 feeding, spawning, shell structure, and viability. It might be well to 

 establish sanitary requirements by area as well as by species. - J.L.M. 



492 



Dow, Robert L. 1971. 



Renewable marine resource industry potential in Maine. Natl. Fisherman 

 51(10), Feb. 1971: 12A, 30A. 



This is the first of a 2-part article under the title given above. This 

 part is headed: Huge potential seen for Maine aquaculture. The paper includes 

 an outline of the possible organization of a renewable marine resource 

 industry, which would produce unprocessed products, processed foods, and 

 nonfood products. Unique features of the coastal waters of Maine for 

 aquaculture are: 1) 30 years of experience in the Dept. of Sea and Shore 

 Fisheries; 2) experience in commercial-scale management of fisheries; 3) 

 natural yields per acre of certain species in the State; 4) experience in 

 raft culture of oysters; 5) a variety of natural features such as protected 

 waters, open coasts, good tidal flow, and wide fluctuations in environmental 

 conditions. For example, since March 1905, annual average sea surface temp 

 has varied from 6.3°C to 11.1°C. The coast is oriented east and west, and 

 most embayments open to the south. Successful artificial culture of 

 Mercenaria mercenaria has been achieved, and hard clam management experiments 

 in the 1940s and 1950s were estimated to have increased producer income from 

 about $9,000 to $119,000 in the period 1947 to 1954. - J.L.M. 



136 



