CLAMS: Types

[John Pierce]

CLAM - TYPES

Victoria/Vancouver Island Clam types, listed alphabetically.

ANGEL WING CLAMS
HABITAT: Sand bar at low tide

BENT NOSE CLAMS
DESCRIPTION:
HABITAT: Abundant very popular, live few inches below the soil and are extremely easy to harvest.
HARVESTING:

BUTTER CLAMS
DESCRIPTION: Large up to 12 cm/3-5", thick-solid shelled with well developed concentric ridges but no radial lines. Shells are yellow in colour in juveniles, changing to grey-white with age. The internal surface is white and smooth, but not glossy. There is a strong prominent external hinge ligament.
HABITAT: Abundant (when can find them) and very popular, live 2-4" below substrate in a wide variety of soil types from pure sand to pure gravel, but the typical substrate is a porous mixture of sand, broken shell, and small gravel. They occur mainly in the lower third of the tidal zone in protected beaches, bays and estuaries.
HARVESTING: Extremely easy, dig (water mining) on beach when tide out max, and easier to dig. Smaller ie <3" nicer/less chewy than bigger ones.

COCKLE CLAMS
SHELL: Prominent evenly-spaced radiating ridges which fan out from the hinge. Mottled, light brown colored.
SIZE & SHAPE: Up to 13 cm. Round, somewhat triangular (pointed hinge).
HABITAT: Sand, mud, 2in deep. Intertidal or subtidal (up to 50-60 feet).

GEODUCK CLAMS
DESCRIPTION:
DISRIBUTION: Regularly over-harvested so limited season. Live several feet below the surface, thus hard work to harvest.
HARVESTING:

HORSE CLAMS
DESCRIPTION: (AKA poor-man's Geoduck)
DISTRIBUTION: Abundant very popular very large up to 5-6lb clams (good for chowder), live ~1 ft below the soil.
HARVESTING: With shovel from sand bars at low tide.

LITTLENECK CLAMS
SHELL: Concentric rings with radiating ridge lines. Siphon tips are fused. Color can vary – typically cream, grey, brown, or mottled. White inside shell.
SIZE & SHAPE: Up to 9 cm. Rounded (similar to Manila Clams but more round).
DEPTH: 6-10 inches.
HABITAT: Gravel & mud in protected beaches, bays and estuaries along BC coast, and near rocky outcrops on outer coast. Clams don't like soft sand. Normally mid-tide level, sometimes lower intertidal or subtidal zone (up to 60 feet).
TASTE: Sweet to eat.

MANILLA CLAMS
SHELL: Concentric rings with radiating line ridges. Siphon tips are split. Color can vary – typically grey, brown, or mottled. Some purple on the inside.
SIZE & SHAPE: Up to 6.5 cm. Oblong (similar to Littlenecks but more oval).
HABITAT: Gravel, mud, sand 2-4 inches below below substrate, above the half-tide level. Common in protected beaches in bays and estuaries in Georgia Strait and west coast of Vancouver Island; small isolated populations in Queen Charlotte Strait and around Bella Bella.

RAZOR CLAMS
DESCRIPTION:
DISTRIBUTION: Regularly over-harvested so limited season. Live several feet below the surface, thus hard work to harvest.
HARVESTING:

REFERENCE

• Canada Department Fisheries - Pacific, Shellfish Guide
• USA Washington State Department Health
• Fish'n BC, Clams Distribution Guide