1248 



Maschke, A. Purcell. 1976. 



Production, trade and consumption of gastropods and bivalve molluscs. FAO 

 Fish. Circ. 345 (FIPP/C345) , iii+70 p. 



In the northwest Atlantic at least 6 clam species are produced commercially, 

 of which the most important are Spisula solidissima and Mercenaria mercenaria. 

 Production of hard clam (the paper calls it soft clam but gives the scientific 

 name M. mercenaria, and the production figure cited is compatible with hard 

 clam production in that year) has declined somewhat recently, and there is 

 evidence that the species is in need of better management. M. mercenaria is 

 listed among other clam species produced in the northeast Pacific, but this 

 may be misleading. Official U.S. statistics group several Pacific species 

 under the name hard clam, including Saxidomus and Protothaca, which probably 

 make up the bulk of west coast landings. Next to Japan, the United States is 

 the world's second largest market for clams. Apparent annual per capita 

 consumption of clams in the U.S. has increased from 0.7 kg live weight in 

 1960 to 1.4 kg in 1974. This has just about compensated for the decline in 

 oyster consumption. Combined production of clams by U.S. and Japan is about 

 75% of world output. In the northwest Atlantic Mercenaria mercenaria is 2nd 

 in importance among clams to Spisula solidissima by weight. Pollution and 

 poor management are problems. In the Mediterranean and Black Seas Venus 

 gallina is taken. M. mercenaria is taken also in the northeast Pacific, but 

 nowhere is Meraenavia or Venus a major commercial species except along the 

 North American Atlantic coast. Prices in the U.S. are much below those in 

 Japan. Supply would seem to be the dominant consideration affecting future 

 growth of consumption in the U.S. World catches of M. mercenaria are given 

 for 1964-1974 incl. and average prices of hard clam in the U.S. and Japan for 

 1970-1975 incl. (Abstracter's note: these figures should be used with caution. 

 The price of hard clams in the U.S. varies widely with grade, and with season, 

 and an average gives only a general guide to prices. For example, on 30 

 December 1976, littlenecks were selling wholesale at Fulton Market in New York 

 City for $60-65/bushel, cherrystones $25, and chowders $10-12. Price time- 

 series also are relatively meaningless unless they are adjusted for changes in 

 buying power of the dollar). - J.L.M. 



1249 



Mason, Phillip. 1974. 



Shellfish Cookbook. Drake Publishers, Inc. , New York, x+18 6 p. 



In addition to recipes for molluscan and crustacean dishes this book contains 

 information on life histories, anatomy, identification, and harvesting 

 methods. The information is for the most part superficial and not always 

 accurate. - J.L.M. 



1250 



Matthews, Samuel A. 1928. 



The palps of lamellibranchs as autonomous organs. J. Exper. Zool . 51(3): 

 209-258. 



Venus (Mercenaria) mercenaria has medium sized palps, thicker than those of 

 My a or Anodonta, but more active than those of any marine form studied 

 except Mya. The high degree of autonomy which the palp exhibits is due to 

 its intrinsic nervous mechanism, a nerve-net. - J.L.M. 



349 



