The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-15
TN STORY OF THE CLAM.

Bay Center, Wash. Feb. 10. iSss
To the Editor; II requires practice 10
become an expert claua-aigger- An ANA
teur seldom meets with success. Even a
professional must mind his P's and as or
the willy fugitive Will be successful in his
attempts 10 escape.
CLANS are bountiful on the fats of VIII
lapa barber. There are three varieties OF
edible elams-the quahog. a large black
sheiled clam; the Eastern. or New York.
clam tplanted hersssorne years ago by the
captain OF an oyster schooner. having
brought q small supply from the Eastern
coasO, and the razor. now almost extinct
When our old pioneers smigrated 10 this
portion of the country about thirty-fve
years ago. razor clans abounded in end
less quantities. The sandy fats were full
OF them. but one unusually hot day they
were drawn 10 the surface and baked
there by the hot rays OF the sun. That,
indeed. was the largest ciambake IN the
history OF this Coast. Since then the
razor clam has been Il luxury that few
people care TO go 10 the trouble OF procur-
ing. They are still plentiful on the OCEAN
fats however. and can be found in linz
tied numbers in their deep water beds OF
the shores OF unfrequented islands and
penilsulas.
The quahog is a native OF Willapa har-
Dor. Ii is a fair substitute for the East
ern clam, but its meat is not SO tender.
juicy or fine favored.
The Eastern CLAIMS multiplied with amaz-
ing rapidity. Thirty years ago. or there
abouts, a few hushei were plagted or
thrown into the bay by the sailofs OF an
Eastern schooner. Today they can be
numbered by millions and are still increas-
ing. They furnish many tables with de-
licious soups and chowders, and when
fried cannot be surpassed by the tender
est morsel OF sirloin.
II one wishes TO become clam-digger
he must lay aside his dignity and so pre-
pared 10 carry out his purposes In the
teeth of the most formidable opposition.
for a clam will not be captured without
d struggle.
An amateur will draw on pair OF rub
Der boots, shoulder a spade and basket
and begin the journey over the flats con-
fident of success. After proceeding a few
hundred yards he notices a network of
small holes. Sometimes the clans rough
neck is just visible above the surface.
I'm catch that fellow thinks the mex
perienced digger. and down goes his spade:
but the clam is never of his guard. He
sinks down. down into the sand with a
speed that amazes his pursuer, who at
length gives up In despair.
But this IS his first attempt. He will
not be worsted by a clam. There are
plenty of others 10 attack, and, seeing the
inQuisitive nose of a fine fat fellow he
thinks, 'Tll take him unawares." The
reward OF his attempt is clam chowder
raw and seasoned with sand. Never be
discouraged; his ever-active mind suggests
another plan which is pictured In q very
reasonable light.
This time he proceeds deliberately TO
remove the sand from the frightened fugi-
tive. After time interminable to the pa
tient worker, his implement of warfare
comes in contact with the hard shell Of
his wouid-be captive. Then. fiinging aside
the spade he is down on hands and knees
with one arm plunged to the elbow in mud
and water. and a struggle for supremacy
ensues. Sometimes the clam succeeds in
avoiding capture. but more often he is not
so fortunate. and a bowl OF steaming
chowder Is on our amateurs bill OF fare
for the coming meal.
A professional digger seems TO know just
where to place his spade. He selects a
dry. sandy spot. where the water and soft
mud viii not impede his progress by cav
ing back into the excavation SO soon as
he has thrown 1t out.
After a few seconds of hard work a
plump clam is brought 10 the surface
washed and transferred to the basket. In
this way an experienced person can dig a
bushel OF clans while an amateur is Sc
lecting spot to place his spade
Several years ago number OF oyster
men organized a company with the inten-
ton OF preparing clans and shipping them
to the city market Their attempts did
not meet with success.
Although our city-bred friends who re-
sort 10 the Coast for a summers outing.
greatly enjoy a clanhake (when a hole
is dug In the sand. inlaid with seaweed,
covered with CLAIMS and surmounted with
a bonfire, which is allowed TO burn low.
when the Goals are raked aside and the
CLAIMS are eaten half raw and seasoned
with sand). they do not seem to relish a
well-prepared fritter or dish OF soup served
in the city restaurants Because OF this.
the clam industry has been failure.
MAUDE RHOADES.