C Hews Letter
KODIAK, ALASKA OPT., KOV.&DKO-. 1920. Vol XX. No. 7,9*9
CLAMS
nN the shores of Hood Island and
Q adjacent islands there are to be
found at least four varieties of edible
clams vit: cardimn oorbis, sometimes
called basket cockle; saxidoimis gi
ganteus; serrlp 's gronlandious, mach
ine inoongrua and siliqua patula.
The oatdinm oorbis is the kind
shown in the illustration. They ure
fouud as far smith as San Diego, Cal.
but their true home is in the oold wa
ters of the north, eien as far north as
the Bering Sea. Looked at from the
end the e.ardiuui oorbis is most decid
edly heart shaped, hence the name.
They have prominent ribs running
from the umbo to the outer edge,
beautifully fluting the edge of the
shell. The shells vary in color, some
being very handsome. Our girlsfre
quently use them in making pincush
ions. They stuff the shell with a
cushion covered with silk or velvet
separating the edges of the shell an
inch or go.
Internally the shell has a central
hinge tooth and also strong lateral
ones, somewhat removed to the right
and left. The pallial line is simple
ns these creatures do not burrow.
They have a long strong foot howev
er by means of which they can move
rather freely, or even anchor them
selves if such an operation becomes
necessary. They ars found only at
very low tide covered very lightly