The Life-history and Growth of the Pismo Clam

Book excerpt: Commercially the Pismo clam (Tivela stultorum)ranks first in importance in California among the clams and third among all the mollusks, being exceeded only by the oyster and the abalone. A second reason for considering this species is that there has been such evidence of depletion as to lead to increasingly more stringent protective laws, all of which have been urged by the residents of the county in which the clam is most abundant. ... An accurate study of the cause and extent of this apparent diminution must await knowledge of at least the fundamental facts of the life history of this clam. ... The more important features are considered to be: the habits, enemies and mortality of the adult; the rate of growth and the factors affecting it; the age at certain significant periods, particularly at sexual maturity and at the time when the legal size is reached; the most common age of clams forming the commercial catch; the season of spawning and the productivity; and the habits, enemies and mortality of the young.