THE ECONOMIC MOLLUSCA OF ACADIA. 
101 
the Pacific coast, to which it has been recently introduced 
and where it is spreading rapidly. It is sometimes taken by 
a system of ploughing, but rarely ; the ordinary weapons for 
capturing it, are there, as with us, a simple bucket and shovel. 
In England this species is used neither for bait nor for 
food, except very locally, being replaced entirely for both 
purposes by the edible Mussel, Mytilus edulis. This seems 
to us very remarkable and unaccountable, considering to what 
an extent other Mollusca are utilized there. It must be 
remembered that in England this is called the “ Gaper, ” the 
name Clam being applied to a species of Scallop, Pecten 
•opercular is. 
In Acadia no statistics are available to show the annual 
value to the three Provinces of this species as food. The 
returns in the Annual Fishery Reports give the value of Clams 
as bait or else overlook them altogether. By the fishermen 
and the people of the sea-port towns it is quite extensively 
eaten in New Brunswick, and it is frequently for sale in the 
markets. In St. John, Mr. J. A. Turner estimates there are 
one thousand barrels per year sold, at an average price of one 
•dollar and fifty cents per barrel, wholesale. The largest and 
best for city trade are brought from Lepreau. 
In Nova Scotia it is very extensively used as food, Willis 
says it could be bought in the Halifax market for a shilling 
sterling per bushel in the shell, or for about threepence per 
quart shelled. At present, over three hundred barrels a year 
are sold, the most of which are brought from Cole Harbor 
and Chezzetcook. They sell for about ten cents a quart or 
six dollars per barrel shelled. 
In Prince Edward Island it is very little used as food, 
being eaten only by the Acadian French, according to Mr. J. 
H. Duvar. It is not improbable that some very large indivi- 
duals may be found in favorable situations, such as those 
referred to above, from Guilford, Conn. Certainly the sandy 
shores and warm summer temperature of the water ought to 
favor their growth to a large size. 
In the vicinity of the St. Croix River, “Clam-bakes ” are an 
institution of venerable antiquity. The Indians probably had 
