transferred from the hatchery at Brush pond, where salinity was variable 

 (ca 25-30°/°°). They were protected in the natural environment by a fence, 

 but no clams were found at end of summer. In 1964 hatchery-spawned clams 

 averaging 6.5 mm long were held from late Aug to end of Oct in floating 

 trays. Length at end of experiment was an average of 8.7 mm. In 1965 

 quahogs averaging 3 mm long were placed in sediment-filled buckets, in 

 floating trays, on 1 Apr. By mid-June average length was 5 mm, by Sept 10 

 mm, when growth stopped. Practicality of artificial shellfish production is 

 still questionable. A hatchery is expensive to build and operate, trained 

 personnel are needed, and rewards are uncertain. A hatchery that could hold 

 over 40x10^ oyster or quahog eggs and larvae would cost $40,000, equipment 

 another $20,000, and annual cost of operation would be about $40,000. 

 Personnel would cost an additional $17,500. (Abstracter's note: at today's 

 inflated prices and wages, costs will be considerably higher). Only 

 fragmentary information was available on anticipated survival of hatchery- 

 reared quahogs in nature. It is extremely difficult to maintain juveniles 

 under natural conditions that permit accurate evaluation of survival. In 

 the area of study the authors concluded that oysters are best suited to 

 hatchery operations because 1) they attach to a substrate and can be 

 observed, and, if necessary, moved; 2) may be grown in heavy concentrations 

 off the bottom; 3) if suspended, they mature more rapidly to marketable size 

 than quahog; 4) price of oysters has been climbing steadily whereas hard 

 clam prices vary widely; 5) oysters can be cultivated in tidal ponds with 

 wide range of salinity, quahogs only in high salinity. For oysters, one 

 year's production might return $120,000 for an annual investment of $36,700 

 (1966 dollars). The rest of the discussion deals with prospects for oyster 

 culture. - J.L.M. 



1253 



Maurer, Don, and Les Watling. 1973. 



The biology of the oyster community and its associated fauna in Delaware 

 Bay. Del. Bay Rept. Ser. 6. Dennis F. Polis (ed.) Coll. Mar. Stud., Univ. 

 Del. Newark, 97 p. 



Meraenaria meraenaria is listed as one of 154 species associated with oyster 

 beds, but it was not among the top 2 3 species. Hard clam was commonly 

 collected in fine sands with clay, near and in oyster beds. The belief of 

 local oystermen that old, noncultivated oyster beds were productive sites 

 for hard clam was confirmed. Apparently, shell fragments afford protection 

 to juveniles against predation, and clams survive predation better in 

 certain shell fragment sizes (unspecified) than in others. Additional 

 information on hard clam biology was being collected at the time of writing. 

 - J.L.M. 



1254 



Maurer, Don, and Les Watling. 1973. 



Studies on the oyster community in Delaware: the effects of the estuarine 

 environment on the associated fauna. Int. Revue Ges. Hvdrobiol. 58(2): 

 161-201. 



Meraenaria meraenaria was found in fine sand and clay sediments underlying 

 oysters and shells in 5 of 8 areas sampled, in and near oyster bars. Local 

 oystermen considered old, noncultivated oyster beds as productive sites for 

 harvesting hard clams. Shell fragments, especially of certain sizes, pro- 

 tect young clams against predation, especially from crabs. Meraenaria 

 meraenaria occurred in less than 20% of all river samples. - J.L.M. 



1255 



Maurer, D., L. Watling, and G. Aprill. 1974. 



The distribution and ecology of common marine and estuarine pelecypods in 

 the Delaware Bay area. Nautilus 88(2): 38-45. 



Meraenaria meraenaria is classified as a true estuarine species. It is 

 commonly collected in fine sand with some clay. In Delaware Bay it ranges 

 from Woodland Beach to the ocean, although it is most abundant in the lower 

 Bay from south of Port Mahon to Broadkill Beach. It is present in commercial 



351 



