The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-07-19
ODD FACTS ABOUT CLANS.
PECULIAR CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
HUMBLE M0LLUSK.

How the Clam DFtnhs eho
II Can use Its Foot as n Spade, . Hook,
. sharp wedge or I'm Other Ways-
Now Hogs Dig for CLANS.
aThe clam in point OF merit seems al
WAYS to have been overshadowed by the
oyster,u said an ichthyologist TO Star
writer. " Yet the more humble mollusk,
which finds domicile in sand or mud, 10
a very useful as well as admirable crea-
ture. You know the squirt clam, which
is so Justly popular in New England,
where it is sometimes called the sand
paper or old maid II is an animal un-
attractive enough in appearance when
newly dug up, but put into pan OF shall
low sea water, and you will presently
observe some things about 1t that Will
surprise you.
"As soon as the clam, thus restored to
its natural element, has regained conf
dence, it stretches out its tube or neck
to q length OF several inches, perhaps
nearly foot. Then it ia seen that this
important organ has two openings at the
end, fringed with appendages like little
feelers. Two tubes pass through the
neck to the body OF the clam, and, il you
watch, you will see a current OF water
flowing into one tube and out of the
other. This current is produced by the
motion OF small hair-like ella lining
the interior OF the animal. The clam
has viscera, a heart, stomach, into which
the mouth opens almost directly-but
did not intend to give you an anatomical
lecture.
"These squirt or long CLAIMS are
found plentifully as far north as the Arc
tic Ocean, where the seals, walrus and
Polar bears and foxes feed upon them
greedily. Their habitat extends as far
south as Cape Hatteras, below which they
are scarce. They thrive also along the
northern coast OF Europe and on the
shores OF Japan, Alaska and Northeastern
Asia. The young clam, as soon az he ID
old enough to establish a dwelling for
himself, protrudes his foot, which ID at
the opposite end from the mech, and pro-
ceeds to dig with It. This foot Is really .
very remarkable instrument, inasmuch Is
the animal can alter its shape at viii, so
that it becomes q spade, a hook, q sharp
wedge or a pointed craving tool. With
it the clam digs down for six or eight
inches into the sand, leaving extended
behind him his siphon-like neck.
at is by means of this siphon that the
clam maintains communication with the
surface. Having neither the means nor
the inclination for roaming, 1t depends
for food upon microscopic articles which
+ are sucked In with the current Of water
through the tube, the water bringing
oxygen also to the gills. Its burden un-
loaded, the water flows out through the
discharging tubes, carrying with it all
excrementitious matter. This current Is
continuous, so that it is never long be-
tween drinks with this bivalve, which
fact may, perhaps, account for the origin
of the phrase, happy as clam
"The spawning season OF squirt
CLAIMS comes in June and July. In issu-
ing from the ovaries OF the female, the
eggs find their way into the cavities Of
the outer giils, where they are fructiaed.
There they develop into little CLANS, Just
big enough to be seen with the naked
eye, when they are discharged by thou.
sands into the water, and left to take car,
OF themselves. As individuals, theil
chance of surviving is small, iDasmuch al
dishes and many other enemies are Away!
ON the lookout for them. However, each
one anchors itself to the bottom by q
slender thread, holding on with ali it!
might against the currents, and making
the best of the situation. After awhile
though just when is not known, they
make burrows in the sand or mud, thu
rendering themselves comparatively Sc
cure against foes of all sorts.
"Hogs on Long Island and elsewhere
know how to dig for clans very wen
They go out upon the fats at 10y waite
and root wherever the pressure OF thei
weight causes squirt TO appear This i
q very cheap and profitable method o
keeping swine, In winter the clam
a xpto k,.k
often found in their shells. These mol
80 lusks, which, as human food and for bali
constitute an important element of tn
marine wealth of the United States, hav
been recently traHsplanted to the Pacif
coast, being carried across the continen
with the oyster seed which is annual
transported in large quantities from th
Eastern States. They have thriven great.
succeeding where the oysters have failet
and have stocked San Francisco Bay wit
anew food supply.
"The Pilgrim fathers and other ear
colonists in this country found Il
Indian 'treading and diving for round
clans, otherwise known in the aborigin
tongue as quahaugs. They adopted u
former method, and to this day their d.
scendants in New England can be SET
all along the coast wading in the wat
and feeling with their toes for the mo
lusks, which lie buried usually in Il
mud that is thickly overgrown with Sc
weed. The animal always lies wi
the edge of its shell out OF the mu
in order to breathe, and the feelii
~ of it to the foot is unmistakab
Diving and threading for quahau
among the Indians used to
performed by the squaws and older CHI
L Il