The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-07-01
POINTS ABOUT CLANS.
THEY DRINK AND BREATHE IN A
PECULIAR MANNER.

7yster, sali an ichthy0lOElst to Star
writer "Iet the moro humble mollusk
which finds domicile in sand or mud,
~ N very useful az well as admirable
creature. You know the squirt clam,
which is so justly popular in New Eng
land. where II ia sometimes called tho
sand gaper' or 'old maid II is an ami
NAL unsttractive enough in appearance
when newly dug up, but put 1t into a
a pan Of shallow sea water. and you will
presently observe something about it
that will surprise you.
As soon as the clam, thus restored to
its natural element. has rsgained conf
dence, IL stretches out its tube or neck
to length Of several inches, perhaps
nearly a foot. Then it Is seen that this
important organ has two openings at the
end. frinyod with appsndages like little
f-elers. Two tubes pass through tho
neck to the body Of the clam, and, il you
watch. you will soc current Of water
t,wing into one tube and out OF the
other. This cnrron. is produced by tho
motion or small hair.like ella lining
the interior OF the animal. The clam
has visccra, a heart, a stomach, into
which the mouth opens almost directly
but l did not intend to give you an
anatomical lecture.
These squirt or long clans are
found plentfully US far north as tho
Arctic Ocean where tho seals, walrus
and Polar bears and foxes feed upon
them grredily. Their habitat extends rs
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 aud Northeast
ern Asia. The young clam, as soon as
he is old enough to establish q dwelling
for himself protrudes his foot, which is
II. the opposite end from the neck, and
proceeds to dig with it. This foot is
really worry remarkable instrument. in
asmuch az the animal can alter it's shape
ut will, SO that it becomes q spade, O
hook, a sharp wedge or pointed grav.
ing tool With 1t the clam digs down
for six OF eight inches into tho sand,
leaving extended behind him his siphon-
like neck.
at is by means Of this siphon that the
clam maintains communication with tho
surface. Having neither the means nor
the inclination for roaming, it depends
for food upon microscopic articles which
are sucked in with the current OF water
through the tube. the water bringing
oxygen to the gils Its burden unloaded,
the water flows out through the dscharg-
ing tubes, carrying with it all excremen-
titious matter. This current is oontinu-
ous. 80 that it is never long between
drinks with this bivalve, which fact may,
perhaps. account for the origin OF the
phrase happy as clam.
Hogs on Long Island and elsewhere
know how to dig for clans very we'll.
They 60 ont upon the flats at low water
and root wherever the pressure OF their
weight causes "a squirt to appear. This
is very cheap and profitable method of
keeping swine. In winter the clans bury
themselves deeply, but icicles are often
found in their shells. These mollusks,
which, as human food and for bait, con-
stitute an important element Of the ma
rine wealth Of the United States. have
been recently transplanted to the Pacific
coast, being carried across the continent
with the oyster seed which is annually
transported in large quantities from the
Eastern States. They have thriven
greatly, succeeding where the oysters
havs failed, and have stocked San Fran
| cisco Bay with new food supply.
"The Pilgrim fathers and other early
| colonsts in this country found the H.
dian tresding' and diving for round
| CLANS, otherwise known in the aboriginal
| tongue as q,iahaugs. They adopted tho
| former method, and to this day their de.
scenlants in New England can be seen
| all along the coast wading in the water
| and feeling with their toes for the mol
| lusks, which lie buried usually in mud
! that is thickly overgrown with seawsed.
The animal always lies With the edge OF
its shell out of the mud, in order to
breathe, and the feeling of it to the foot
is uumistakable. Diving and 'treading
| for quahaugs among the Indians used to
be performed by the squaws and older
| children, such labor being beneath the
| dignity of the men. At present oyster
| tonys, rakes and dredges are employed
| for the purpose. The aborigines manu-.
| fac,uyed money out of the shells, as
we'll as arrow points. scrapers, spoons,
! paint-holders and other utensils. In
their time
| the dainty Indian maize
! Was eat with clam shells out of wooden trays.
-lhe Indians in the old days were
great eaters of CLAIMS, as is proved by the
enormous deposits of the shells which re-
main along the shores of bays and estua-
rites. They dried clans, as well as oys-
t.rs, in the sun on pieces of bark, thus
preserving them for purposes OF trade.
The coast tribes, conquered by the pow
erfuI Six Nations, paid large tribute OF
CLANS, which were regarded as great
luxury in the interior-not only the IN
terror of the Indian, mean, but OF tho
couutry. la the summer and fall the
.yax camo to the seashore for the pur.
.,se OF celebrating their great festival OF
lhe green corn, on which occasion CLANS
fucculcnt ears of corn and seaweeds
we're roasted together 1t is from this
custom that tho modern cIambake is &C.