THE 



CATCH 



flard clams are easy game for 

 anyone with a bucket, a hand rake and 

 some free time. 



But how do you find these tasty 

 bivalves? Look for a keyhole in the 

 mud. This is not a science fiction 

 scenario in which you unlock the 

 hidden door to a watery wonderland — 

 it's a sign the clam gives to anyone 

 willing to bend over and look. 



Hard clams (Mercenaria 

 mercenaria), also called northern 



By Daun Daemon • Photographs by Jim Bahen quahogs, are filter-feeding mollusks 



that breathe and eat through siphons. 

 Using these siphons, clams draw in 

 water and food particles that pass 

 through their gills, which trap algae or 

 phytoplankton. The microscopic 

 single-celled plants then pass to the 

 stomach. 



Because clams burrow into 

 bottom sediments, they get the needed 

 nourishment from the water above by 

 extruding their siphons through the 

 sand. The intake and outflow of water 

 creates a current that opens the vent in 

 the mud. 



"The hole that the siphon makes 

 looks like an old-timey keyhole," says 

 Jim Bahen, North Carolina Sea Grant 

 marine extension agent. 



And Bahen says that the colder 

 months are best for keyhole clamming, 

 the term for locating clams by looking 

 for the telltale opening in the mud. 

 Clam pick used for digging and raking up clams As the water cools in the fall, it 



becomes clearer because there are 

 fewer tiny organisms and less siltation. It is then easier to see the clams signing, or 

 showing the keyholes. Also more visible is clam waste, which resembles small 

 squiggly worms, next to the openings. 



According to Bahen, the best times to clam are early morning and late 

 afternoon. When the sun is higher in the sky, it creates a glare that can obscure the 

 keyholes. Looking at low tide is a good idea because more of the bottom is 

 exposed. Even though clams close during low tides, the vents in the sand remain 

 open. 



When you spot a keyhole, carefully probe the mud with a tool. Small hand 

 rakes work well, and many fishing stores sell clam rakes with just the right 

 amount of space between the tines to capture only clams big enough for harvest. 

 According to Bahen, small garden claws or even screwdrivers are useful for 

 probing for the clams. 



Fnpping 

 Over Cams 



30 HOLIDAY 1997 



