1875 



Vallentyne, J. R. 1969. 



Pyrolysis of amino acids in Pleistocene Mercenaria shells. Geochim. Cosmochim. 

 Acta 33: 1453-1458. 



The order of increasing stability of amino acids in pyrolysed shells of 

 Mercenaria mercenaria from the Wailes Bluff formation in Virginia was serine, 

 threonine, methionine, lysine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, leucine, 

 proline, valine, glycine, alanine, and glutamic acid. Rates of decomposition 

 were all greater than for the same amino acids in dilute aqueous solution. 

 Water decreases decomposition probably by dilution, which reduces the 

 frequency of interaction of amino acids among themselves and with other 

 components of Meroenaria shell. The most significant general result was the 

 striking similarity in amino acid composition of pyrolysed Pleistocene shells 

 and untreated Miocene shell. Pyrolysis, in effect, transformed amino acid 

 composition of Pleistocene shell into that of Miocene shell. - J.L.M. 



1876 



Van der Heyde, H. C. 1922. 



On the physiology, digestion, respiration and excretion of echinoderms. 

 C. De Boer Jr., Den Helder (Dissertation, Amsterdam). 



Assumes that a toxic secretion, liberated by sea star and introduced between 

 valves of the clam, is responsible for opening the clam. - from Burnett, 

 Ecology 41(3), 1960 - J.L.M. 



1877 



Van Popering, M. J. 1947. 



History of the shellfish industry in Great South Bay, New York. Part II. 

 Shipping industry. Unpub.(?) ms.,20 p. 



The beginnings of the oyster industry in Great South Bay are traced, the 

 export trade described, the names of early shellfish companies given, and 

 brief biographies of some of the leading pioneers included. The firm of 

 G. Vanderborgh and Son (now Long Island Oyster Farms, Inc.), established in 

 1884, handled many clams, which they bought from baymen working the public 

 grounds. Some of these clams were replanted (presumably to hold for favorable 

 market conditions). Another firm, Still and Clock of Bay Shore, began a clam 

 business about 1925, buying the catch of baymen from public grounds. Many 

 residents of Islip Town tonged clams for 4 to 6 months each year, some 

 working also in winter as weather permitted. Most grounds under lease were 

 leased between 1874 and 1900, many of them in 1885. Before leasing, it was 

 mandatory to tong clams on the ground in question, to determine whether a 

 living could be made harvesting clams. The lease would be allowed if clams 

 were sparse. Each plot was 4 acres, and no person was allowed more. Since 

 this was not enough ground for profitable operation, planters evaded the law 

 by taking out additional plots in the names of friends and relatives. This 

 practice was eliminated when the Islip Town Board in 1931 began leasing 

 larger plots for 10 yr periods at $2.50/acre. It was provided that leases 

 could be renewed for another 10 yrs at a rental to be determined. In 1937 

 some new leases were issued for 15 yrs, with the option to renew for another 

 10 yrs. A copy of a lease issued in 1878 is included. There was no record 

 of the amount of clams taken from the Bay. Many thousand bushels were taken 

 each year. In addition to regular baymen, others turned to the Bay for a 

 living in hard times. Before auxiliary power was in common use, clam boats 

 carried sail, and diggers left home on Monday morning, lived on their boats 

 near or on the grounds, and returned home Friday afternoons. When power was 

 added clamming became a daily operation. On leased grounds tongers were 

 hired to make the catch of oysters. Sometimes enough clams were taken to pay 

 for the day's labor. - J.L.M. 



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