The edible clams, mussels and scallops of California

Contents

Pa.ce

INTRODUCTION 3

LIST OF THE EDIBLE BIVALVES OF CALIFORNIA 5

Introduction To Key— General Anatomy Of Bivalves 6

KEY TO THE EDIBLE BIVALVES OF CALIFORNIA 8

ADAPTATION TO ENVIRONMENT AS ILLUSTRATED BY THE

SURVEY OF ANAHEIM SLOUGH 17

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE EDIBLE BIVALVES OF CALIFORNIA 24

LIST OF CHIEF LOCALITIES AND SPECIES FOUND AT EACH G5

WHERE TO LOOK FOR THE BIVALVES HERE TREATED 67

HINTS ON THE USE OF CLAMS 68

FISH AND GAME LAWS RELATING TO CLAMS 71

INDEX 73

PLATES __— 77

STATE OF CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION

Fish Bulletin No. 4 SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA January 10, 1921

Introduction

The present paper lias two; purposes. First, it is an attempt to estimate the economic importance to the state of the bivalves here treated by putting on record the extent and position of the available mollusk producing grounds, the number and abundance of the edible species, and by contributing to a knowledge of their life histories lay the foundation for such protective legislation as may in the future be found necessary. Secondly, it proposes to make available to the camper and amateur naturalist a means of identifying the more common and important bivalves. During the last few years several agencies, chief among which are the development of the automobile and the extension of good roads, have greatly increased the number of people reaching the woods, the mountains and the sea. The campers at the seashore should realize the possibilities of food in the clams, mussels and other bivalves of the California coast, for these animals are at their best when freshly taken. It is hoped that the key and the figures here presented will enable any one to recognize the forms met with on this coast and that the accounts of their habits and use will make it possible to find and to utilize a source of food now distinctly neglected. By directing the attention of the camper to the interesting adaptations and beauties of these little known animals, his pleasure in the great out of doors will be correspondingly increased.

Nearly five hundred species of bivalves are known from the west coast of America north of Mexico. Many of these are, of course, too small or too rare to be of possible food value. The following key will serve to identify the forms treated in the present paper, which includes, it is believed, all those to be met with in the markets or likely to be dug for food, but it must be remembered that many others, usually less abundant or less conspicuous, will be found on this coast. As far as known this is the first key to the bivalves of the coast that has been published and the task of selection has proved to be a difficult one.

In treating the species the nomenclature and order given by Dall* has been followed except in the matter of the use of subgeneric names in which the usage of the writer differs.

*Checklist oT the Recent Bivalve Mollusks of the Northwest Coast of America,

etc. Southwest Museum, 1916.

Some idea of the economic importance of the California mollusks may be gathered from the amounts marketed during the past four years, according to statistics gathered by the Fish and Game Commission :

1910 Pounds

1917 Pounds

1918 Pounds

1919 Pounds

759,208

Soft-shell clam ....._ _ . __ _

186,654 563,82?

36,187 41,992

44,496

Totals - - -

2,147,771

1,803,898

1,605,910

*Estimated. The return for "mixed clams" was divided between the "Washington clam and the soft-shell in the proportion of two to one. The statistics of the native and Eastern oyster are omitted as they are reported by number, not weight.

To these must be added the clams used locally by residents and campers, a quantity not possible to estimate accurately but which would nearly double the yield of certain species and includes a number of forms not listed above.

The present paper is a result of the policy of the Fish and Game Commission to investigate the marine resources of Calif ornias. In 1910 Mr. Will F. Thompson traversed the entire coast north of San Francisco and made a careful survey of this region. In 1916 Dr. Harold Heath of Stanford University made an examination of the California coast south of San Francisco. In 1916 Mr. Carl L. Hubbs, now of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, collected in the same region. In the spring of 1919 the writer made a survey of the southern part of the state, particularly that portion from San Pedro south, which had not previously received much attention, and in the fall of the same year reexamined San Francisco and Humboldt Baysf. The present paper represents the data collected by all these workers and has been put in its present form by the writer with the advice and assistance of Mr. Thompson. For the plates, key and the general discussion of distribution the writer is responsible. Locality records where resting on the authority of a single observer are initialed, otherwise they are to be considered as matters of general knowledge or are the observation of the present writer. To various deputies of the Fish and Game Commission and to many clam diggers the writer wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness for uniform courtesy in furnishing information and material. Thanks are due Mrs. Oldroyd of Stanford University for the opportunity of examining her collection and for material. The work has been clone partly at the State Fisheries Laboratory at Long Beach and partly at the Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University at Pacific Grove ; to Dr. Wv K. Fisher, Director of the latter institution, the writer wishes to express his appreciation of the facilities extended. Acknowledgment is here made to Alice Jenkins Weymouth for assistance in the preparation and revision of the manuscript of the present paper.

LIST OF THE EDIBLE BIVALVES OF CALIFORNIA

Scientific name Common name Other names

1. Ostrea lurida Carpenter Native oyster

2. Pecten circularis Sowerby Scallop Fan shell

3. Hinnites giganteus Gray Rock scallop Rock pecten

4. Anomia peruviana d'Orbigny Rock oyster

5. Monia macrosclusma Deshayes Rock oyster

6. Mytllus calif omianus Conrad Sea mussel

7. Mytilus eclulis Linnaeus Bay mussel

8. Modiolus rectus Conrad Horse mussel

9. Cardium quadragenarium Conrad Spiny cockle

10. Cardium corbis Martyn Cockle

11. Cardium datum Sowerby Giant cockle

12. Tivela stultorum Mawe Pismo clam

13. Amiantis callosa Conrad Sea cockle

14. Saxidomus nuttalli Conrad Washington clam Butter clam

Money-shell

15. Saxidomus giganteus Deshayes Washington clam Same as above

16. Chione fiuctifraga Sowerby _Hard-shell cockle

17. Chione undatella Sowerby Hard-shell cockle

18. Chione succincta Valenciennes Hard-shell cockle

19. Paphia tenerrima Carpenter Thin-shelled cockle

20. Paphia staminea Conrad Rock cockle Little-neck

Hard-shell

Tomales Bay cockle

oi m 7,- , , Rock clam

Z\. Tellina bodegensis Hinds Tellen

22. Metis alta Conrad Metis

23. Macomanasuta Conrad _ Bent-nosed clam Mud clam

24. Macoma secta Conrad White sand clam

25. Semele decisa Conrad v] a t Clam

26. Psammobia californica Conrad Sunset shell

27. Psammobia edentula Gabb Sunset shell

28. Sanguinolaria nuttalli Conrad Purple clam

Donax californica Conrad Wedge shell

Donax laevigata Deshayes Common wedge shell__Bean clam

31. Tagelus calif omianus Conrad Jackknife clam Razor clam

32. Solen sicarius Gould Jackknife clam Razor clam

33. Solen rosaceus Carpenter Jackknife clam Razor clam

34. Siliqua lucida Conrad Razor clam Razor shell

Sea clam

35. Siliqua patula Dixon Raz0 r clam Same as above

36. Spisula sp Dish shell

Schizothaerus nuttalli Conrad Gaper Summer clam

Horse clam Otter-shell

Mya arenaria Linnaeus Soft-shell Soft clam

Long clam

,„ m , , ,, " Mud clam

39. Platyodon cancellatus Conrad

40. Panope generosa Gould Geoduck

41. Zirfaea gabbi Tryon Piddock : Borer

42. Parapholas californica Conrad _Borer Piddock

43. Pholadidea penita Conrad Rock clam Borer

Piddock

29. 3 0.