1294 



Menzel, R. W. , E. W. Cake, M. L. Haines, R. E. Martin, and L. A. Olsen. 1976. 



Clam mariculture in northwest Florida: Field study on predation. Proc. Natl. 

 Shellf. Assn. 65: 59-62. 



For 2 important reasons it is preferable to plant hatchery-reared clams in 

 natural environment as soon as possible after setting: 1) costs of holding in 

 a closed system may be prohibitive; and 2) growth rates in the laboratory have 

 never been as good as in the field. In Va. tiny hard clams were protected 

 successfully against predators by planting in a bottom protected with gravel, 

 slag or shell. Various hybrids of Mercenaria mercenaria and M. campechiensis 

 were planted at Alligator Harbor, Fla. in areas protected with a wire cage, 

 with a substrate of pea gravel, and with crushed oyster shell. Two 

 unprotected plots served as controls. Survival was better than 50% in the 

 wire-covered plot, 10% in gravel, slightly more than 2% in shell, less than 

 1% in controls. It was concluded that in this area of Fla. gravel or crushed 

 shell substrates do not give satisfactory protection. - J.L.M. 



1295 



Menzel, R. W. , E. C. Cake, M. L. Haines, R. E. Martin, and L. A. Olsen. 1976. 



Clam mariculture in northwest Florida: Observations on selection and 

 hybridization. Proc. Natl. Shellf. Assn. 66: 103 (abstract). 



Attempts have been made to breed faster-growing quahogs by crossing 

 Mercenaria mercenaria with M. campechiensis and selecting for fast growth. 

 Parents were obtained from areas from Me. to Tex. Eighty-eight successful 

 rearings and plantings have been made from 1972 to 1975 inclusive. 

 Replicates of each cross, on reaching 2 to 3 mm in the laboratory, were 

 selected for size and were planted and compared with unselected controls. 

 Some crosses reached over 50 mm long in 14 to 15 months. The most rapidly 

 growing lots were selected groups of backcrosses of F^ hybrids to southern 

 quahog. Recent emphasis has been to backcross these with northern quahog, 

 which has much better keeping quality when removed from the water. - J.L.M. 



1296 



Mercer, H. 19 63. 



Comment on L. I. commercial shellfish hatcheries. The Bluepoints Co., West 

 Sayville, L. I., N. Y. Unpublished mimeo leaflet, 3 p. 



Could not locate. Search terminated. - J.L.M. 



1297 



Merrick, Jacqueline P., and William H. Johnson. 1974. 



Alpha paramyosin: Solubility and agaregation characteristics. Fed. Proc. 

 33(5), Pt. 2: 1521 (abstract 1684).' 



Alpha paramyosin, extracted from molluscan adductor muscle in presence of 

 0.01 M EDTA, differs from the classical ethanol preparation in size and 

 solubility. Other differences are described. In present studies of 

 aggregation, Ca, suspected as a controlling factor in "catch-muscle" action, 

 affects nucleation time and growth rate. It is proposed that approximately 

 2/3 of the paramyosin molecule, a protease-resistant core, is involved in 

 aggregation of monomers into thick filaments of adductor muscle, similar to 

 light meromyosin. The C-terminal third is analogous to myosin subfragment-2 . 

 The 5% end is "sticky" and involved in interaction between large filaments. 

 The molluscan species is not identified, but it probably was Mercenaria 

 mercenaria. - J.L.M. 



364 



