o
-l
.
o
1,',
M$
o
t
'.;1,.
i .' .r',:
SHELLFII SH,
SH IINVESTIGATION
SHELLF
NVESTIGATI
ON
I
NFORMATION REP0RT
REPORT
INF0Rf'|ATI0N
o
THE
THE 1979
CLAM
1979 RAZOR
RAZOR
CLAMFISHERY
FISHERY
o
o
I
By
By Terry
Terry Link
Link
a
0regonDepartment
Oepartrentof
Fish &
Oregon
& Wildlife
Uildlife
of Fish
May
May1980
1980
a
o
r'?
I t'r
4
o
.
o
THET979
RAZOR
THE
1979 RAZOR
CLA1
FISHERY
CLAM
FISHERY
o
i.
o
Razor
from Clatsop
Razor clams
clams from
(TillamookHead
ClatsopBeach
Beach(Tillamook
Headto
to Columbia
Columbia
River)
River) were
were
sampledregularly
regularly from
from1arch
sampled
l{arch through
throughSeptember
September
periodically the
and periodically
and
rest of
the rest
of
year. Sport
the year.
the
Sport and
andcommercial
conunerclal
diggers
diggers were
wereinterviewed
intervieuedto
to obtain
obtain catch
catch
location
location and
and number
number and
and age
age composition
composition of
of clams
clamsdug.
dug. Random
Randcrn
age-lengthdata
data
age-length
and
and wastage
wastage samples
sampleswere
werecollected.
collected. Data
Datafrom
frcnrother
other beaches
beaches
south
southof
of
Tillamook
Headwere
Tlllamook Head
were collected
collectedas
permitted.
as time
timepermitted.
o
PORT
FISHERY
SPORT
FISHERY
A calculated
calculated1,021,000
1,0?1,000
A
clams
yrereharvested
clamsIncludina
lncludingwastage
wastage were
harvestedon
on 90,000
90,000
o
digger trips
trips to
to Clatsop
Clatsopbeach.
digger
beach. This
This represented
represented
a 24.5%
24.s%increase
a
increaseIn
in digger
digger
trlps and
andaa 12.8%
trips
t?.8%increase
increasein
in number
number
of clams
clamsdug
of
dug compared
to
compared
to the
the 1978
l97g
a
season.
season.
The
bro-mile Seaside
Seasidebeach
The two-mile
beachaccounted
aecounted
for 30.1%
30.1/,of
for
of the
the digger
diggertrips
trips
and31.7%
31.7%of
and
of the
the clams
clamsdug.
dug. Table
Table1I lists
lists harvest,
harvest, catch
catch rates
rates and
andnumber
number
of digger
trips by
of
digger trips
by statistical
statistical area.
Annualharvest
area.
harvestis
is shown
shounin
Annual
in Table
Table2.
2.
HARVEST
HARVEST
SUMMARY
SUM}IARY
t
Digging
goodon
manybeaches
Digging was
was good
thus
on many
beaches
thus dispersing
disperslngeffort.
effort.
per
catchper
Catch
unit of
of effort
effort was
was10.7
unit
10.7clams.
clams. A
very large
large set
A very
was observed
set was
observedin
in September
Septenber
on the
the south
southhalf
half Of
on
Beach.
of Seaside
Seaside
Beach. Sampling
Sampllng
revealedaa high
revealed
high of
250clams
of 250
clams
a
o
C
per sq.
sq. ft.,
ft., but
but by
by December
per
only
December
per sq
only 0.5
0.5 clams
clamsper
ft. could
sq. ft.
couldbe
be found.
found.
;
-2-2-
o
T a b l e1.
l.
Table
o
Area
Area
M i l e sof
of
Miles
Beach
Beach
1
I
3.6
3.6
Ll,027
11,027
10.9
10.9
113,132
113,132
7,478
7,478
2
2
6 22
6
22,247
22,247
1
1 .3
11.3
236"577
236,577
l5,637
15,637
?52,2t4
252,214
3
3
5.0
5.0
19,490
19,480
9.5
9.5
164,086
164,086
10,846
10,846
174,932
174,932
4
4
t.2
1.2
g,996
9,996
14.9
14.9
140,153
140,153
9,264
9,264
149,417
149,417
5
5
2.0
2.0
26,997
26,987
t2.0
12.0
304,422
304,022
20,095
20,095
324,117
324,117
Total
Total
1
8.0
18.0
89,737
89,737
11.4*
11.
4*
957,970
957,970
63,320 1,021,290
I ,021,290
63,320
t
o
Sport Harvest
Harvestof
RazorClams
of Razor
Clamsand
Number
andNumber
Sport
of
Diggersby
of Diggers
by Area
Area
from
Clatsop
Beach,
Flarchto
to September,
September,
from Clatsop Beach, March
1979.
1979.
Number
Number
of
of
Clams
Dug/
Clams Dug/
Digging
Trips Digger
Digging Trips
Digger Trip
Trip
Nunberpf
Itlunberof
Number
Harvest
Number
rrf
of Harvest
ClamsDug
Dug Clams
Clamswasted
Clams
wasted Total
Total
120,610
120,610
park Road
I -- Columbia
Columbia
River to
Fort Stevens
to Fort
StevensPark
River
Road
1
o
o
- Fort
2
Fort Stevens
StevensPark
2 Park Road
Roadto
to Sunset
SunsetBeach
BeachRoad
Road
- Sunset
3
SunsetBeach
3 BeachRoad
to Gearhart
Road to
Gearhart Beach
BeachRoad
Road
4 -- Gearhart
4
BeachRoad
Roadto
Gearhart Beach
River
Necanicum
to Necanicum
River
5 -- Necanicum
$lecanicum
5
River to
(seaside)
to Tillamook
TillamookHead
River
Head(Seaside)
** Weighted
l,tleighted
mean
mean
hlastage
was
estimatedat
Wastage
was estimated
at 6.2%
6.2%or
63,000clams
or 63,000
clams in
and reached
in 1979
1979and
reachedaa high
high
a
of l3[3%in
late June.
of
L33%in late
June. Wastage
Wastage was
was most
most severe
at Seaside
severeat
Seaside
Beach. Age
Agecomposition
Beach.
conrposition
recreationallydug
of recreationally
(tgll year
of
dug clams
clams indicated
indicatedthat
that 1+
1+ clams
clams(1977
year class)
class) made
made
up 75.3%
75.31[
(Table3).
of the
the catch
catch(Table
up
of
3).
a
o
o
-3-3-
o
Table
AnnualHarvest
Table 2.
2. Annual
Harvestand
andEffort
Effort Data
Datafor
for the
theSport
Sportand
Fishery*
andConinercial
Commercial
Fishery*
o
o
a
o
a
a
o
a
o
o
Year
Year
Commercial
Numberof Number of
Number
D
Diggers
ClamsDug
Du
Clams
Numberof
Number
D
i q q er s
Diggers
Sport
per
amsper
Clams
Diqqer Tri
Digger
Trip
Number of
lamsDug
Clams
Total
Total
|das
Wastage
Harvest
Harvest
1955
1955
295
295
904,000
904,000
55,000
56,000
2L.6
21.6
1 , 2 1 2 , 0 0 0295,000
1,212,000
295,000
2,41I
2,411,000
,000
1956
1956
253
2s3
490,000
490,000
60,000
60,000
17.7
17.7
1,061,000295,000
295,000
1,061,000
1,846,oo0
1,846,000
1957
1957
193
193
336,000
. 336,000
77,A0A
77,000
2t.4
21.4
I ,646,000 416,000
416,000
1,646,000
2,398,000
2,398,000
1958
1958
?2t
221
396,ooo
386,000
89,000
89'ooo
1
8.9
18.9
I1,679,000
218,000 2,283,000
2,283,000
,679,000218,000
1959
1959
118
118
179,000
179,000
54,000
54,000
12.0
12.0
646,000 124,000
124,000
646,000
949,000
949,000
1960
1960
93
93
154,000
154,000
48,000
48,000
12.4
12.4
596,000 46,000
46,000
596,000
796,000
796,000
1961
1961
58
58
80,000
80,000
5
1,000
51,000
11.4
11.4
583,000 70,000
70,000
583,000
733,000
733,000
t962
1962
79
79
102,000
102,000
56'ooo
56,000
1
5.9
15.9
892,000 105,000
105,000
892,000
I,099,000
1,099,000
1963
1963
77
77
107,000
107,000
55'000
55,000
13.0
13.0
7 1 3 , 0 0 0 70,000
70,000
713,000
890,000
890,000
1964
1964
125
125
125,000
125,000
7l
71,000
'ooo
15.5
15.5
1,098,000264,000
264,000
1,098,000
1,487,000
1,487,000
1955
1965
2
13
213
399,000
399,000
76,000
76,000
14.9
14.9
1,134,000186,000
186,000
1,134,000
I ,719,000
1,719,000
1966
1966
2t7
217
282,000
282,000
78'ooo
78,000
1
3.6
13.6
l,,052,000434,000
434,000
1,052,000
1,768,000
1,768,000
1967
1967
297
297
494,000
494,000
74'ooo
74,000
1
9.9
19.9
1,472"000195,000
1,472,000
195,000
2,161,000
2,161,000
1968
1968
340
340
361,000
361,000
64'ooo
64,000
13.0
13.0
8 3 1 , 0 0 0162,000
831,000
162,000
1969
1969
185
185
1
11,000
111,000
59,000
59,000
14.4
14.4
851
851,000
1970
1970
79
79
6l,000
61,000
56,000
56,000
1
2.8
12.8
155,000
155,000
I ,117,000
1,117,000
"000
751,000125,000
751,000
125,000
901,000
901,000
1971
1971
134
134
1.23,000
123,000
77'ooo
77,000
t2.6
12.6
968,000213,000
968,000
213,000
1,304,000
1,304,000
1972
1972
76
76
49,000
49,000
69,000
69,000
9.2
9.2
636,000139,000
636,000
139,000
824,000
824,000
1973
1973
111
111
89
89,000
'ooo
76,000
76,000
9.5
9.5
725,000159,000
725,000
159,000
973,000
973,000
t974
1974
58
58
32,000
32,000
44'ooo
44,000
7.9
7.9
347,000
347,000
384,000
384,000
I 975
1975
146
146
171,000
171,000
75,000
75,000
10.5
10.5
785,000157,000
157,000
785,000
I976
1976
391
391
717,000
717,000
1
19,000
119,000
1
2.0
12.0
1 , 4 3 1 , 0 0 0 63,000
1,431,000
63,000
t977
1977
269
269
143,000
143,000
5l,000
51,000
9.6
9.6
4gg,000 33,000
33,000
499,000
675,000
675,000
1978
1978
253
253
205,000
205,000
72,ooa
72,000
11.8
11.8
849,000 137,000
137,000
.849,000
I ,191,000
1,191,000
1979
1979
236
236
180.000
180,000
90,000
90,000
10.7
1
0.7
958,000
63,000
958,000
63,000
I,201,000
1,201,000
5'000
5,000
I ,354,000
1,354,000
1,113,000
1,113,000
2,211,000
2,211,000
rvest is
is total lanclings:mostly;
* COmmercial harvest
n9slmostly;sport
for Clatsop
sport data
data is
is for
ClatsopBeach.
Beach.
o
-4-4-
o
Table
3. Age
Table 3.
AgeComposition,
Percent,ofofSport
Sport
Dug
Razor
Composition, in Percent,
Dug
Razor
Clams
Clamsfrom
from
Clatsop
Beach,
Clatsop Beach,
1974-1979
1974-lg7g
Year of
Harvest
Harvest
o
o
[]o
o
0
0_
1
t
z
2
3
4
5+
5+
1974
1974
1
10.0
0.0
55.3
55.3
24.3
?
4.3
6.9
6.9
3.3
3.3
4.2
0.2
1975
1975
?4.0
24.0
46.0
46.0
t17.6
7.6
9.8
9.8
2.3
2.3
0.3
0.3
t976
1976
1
14.6
4.6
78.9
78.9
2.8
2.8
2.0
2.0
1.3
1.3
0
.4
0.4
1977
1977
3
37.5
7.5
1
5 .7
15.7
33"5
33.5
6
.6
6.6
3.8
3.8
2.9
2.9
1978
1978
28,1
287
6
1 .B
61.8
4.0
4.0
3.5
3.5
1.3
1.3
0.7
0.7
L979
1979
1
2.3
12.3
75.3
75.3
1 1 .I
11.1
0.9
0.9
0.3
0.3
0.1
0.1
l0 Year
Year 24.2
10
Z4.z
AVerage
Average
5
5.5
55.5
13.6
13.6
4.7
4.7
1.5
1.5
0.5
0.5
COMMERCIAL
COMMERCIAL
FISHERY
FISHERY
In 1979,
1979,236
236diggers
diggersharvested
pounds(249,000
36,140
(249,000 clams)
clams) of
of
harvested
36,140pounds
clams. statistical
clams.
area
pounds
for52%
Statistical area
4 4accounted
accounted
for
oF
52%of the
thetotal
totalpounds
of
F]
o
clams
landed. The
clams landed.
Theage
(Table3)
age conposition
compositionof
of conmercially
cotmiercially dug
dugclams
clams(Table
3)
reflectedthe
thebetter
betterthan
yearclass in the fishery.
reflected
average
77
than
average
77 year
fishery. The
The
comnercial
fisherytook
took15%
15%of
comercial
fishery
of the
harvested
from
thetotal
totalclams
clams
harvested
fromClatsop
Clatsop
o
Beach.
Beach. A sample
sampleof 105
105coiiuiiercial
cqrmercialcatches
pounds
that
catchesshowed
shorryed
that 33.7%
33.7%of
of the
thepounds
dug
dug comnercially
commerciallywere
werenot
not sold
sold to aa licensed
wholesale
buyer.
licensed
buyer.
wholesale
o
o
o
o
-5-5-
o
o
o
o
Table
4. Age
Table 4.
Age Composition,
in percent,
Composition, in
Commerciaily
DugRazor
RazorClams
of Commercially
percent, of
Dug
Clams
from
Clatsop
Beach,
from Clatsop Beach, 1974-1979
tg74-tg7g
Year
of
Year of
Harvest
Harvest
0
1
2
3
4
5+
t974
1974
0.7
0.7
40.0
40.0
35.9
35.9
13.0
13.0
t0.?
10.2
0.2
0.2
t975
1975
0.4
0.4
50.B
50.8
1
4" 7
14.7
20.6
20.6
11.9
11.9
1.6
1.6
t976
1976
8.7
8.7
87.4
87.4
2.6
2.6
0.9
0.9
0.4
0.4
0.0
0.0
t977
1977
1.6
1.6
8.7
8.7
60.0
60.0
t2.0
12.0
10.6
10.6
7.t
7.1
1978
1978
0.8
0.8
70"
B
70.8
1 0 .7
10.7
L2.6
12.6
3.4
3.4
t.7
1.7
t979
1979
0.0
0.0
61.9
61.9
26.L
26.1
7.t
7.1
4.0
4.0
0.9
0.9
Year
10 Year
10
Average
Average
2
.0
2;O
49.6
49.6
28.6
28.6
L?.6
12.6
5.9
5.9
1 . 3'
RAZOR
RAZOR CLAM
CLAM PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION SOUTH
SOUTH OF
HEAD
OF TILLAI,'IOOK
TILLAMOOK HEAD
Data were
vrereobtained
from 14
obtainedfrom
Data
14 beaches
south of
TillamookHead
Headas
beaches south
of Tillamook
as time
time
a
perrnitted.
Table 55 lists
permitted. Table
lists the
pertinent catch
the beaches
beachesand
and pertinent
data. The
catchdata.
The most
most
productive
beacheswere
in the
productive beaches
were in
Beachand
the Cannon
and Newport
ltevuport
Cannon Beach
areas.
areas. Most
Most beaches
beaches
havehad
had better
better than
have
than average
averagedigging
digging with
with 2+
2+ clams
clamsdominating
dominatingcatches.
catches.
a
L_A
o
o
U
o
o
o
- 6-
O
Table5.
Table
5.
RazorClara
ClamData
Razor
Data fron
from Beaches
Beaches South
Head, 1979.
Southof
Tillar.,rook
of Tilla!look
Head,
1979.
Area
Area
Sampled
Sampled
O
O
a
O
a
o
o
o
o
go. of
in
in Percent
Percent
po, of
AgeComposition
Composition
No.
of No.
Clarns/ Age
of Clams!
DiggersClams
Diggers
Digger
0
Digger
0---T--re
2
3
Clams
1
4
5+
I n d i a nBeach
Indian
Beach
-
-
Crescent
CrescentBeach*+
Beach*+
-
-
P
t.
Chapman
C
h a p mPt.
an
5
5
113
113
22.6
22.6
Cannon
Cannon Beach
Beach
9
9
106
106
11.8
lt.B
Tolovana
Tolovana
5
5
12
12
2.4
Z.q
100.0
100.0
Silver
S
i l v e r Pt.
Pt.
11
tl
78
73
7.1
7
.L
16.3
13.1
7 0 . 61
1 6 . 3 70.6
3.1
Jockey
JockeyCap*
Cap*
-
-
Arch
Cape*+
ArchCaPe*+
-
-
F a l c o nCove
Falcon
Cove
29
29
287
Zgt
8.5
A . 5 47.4
3 7 . 3 6.8
4 7 . 4 37.3
6.8
-
-
-
7.1
7.1
-
5,4
5.4
94.6
94.6
5.5
5 .5
91.5
9
1 . 5 3.0
3.0
21.4
Zt.4 71.5
7l.s
23.1 71.2
Z3.l
7t.? 5.7
5.7
-
-
3.9
3.9
9.9
9.9
7.4
1 . 4 88.4
B g . 4 4.2
4.2
92.3 3.8
92.3
3.8
ShortSand
Short
Sand
4
4
80
B0
BayOcean
Bay
Ocean
8
B
60
60
A g a t eBeach
Agate
Beach
50
50
707
707
. 5 10.8
14.1
0.5
1
4.1 0
4 t . ? 34.4
3 4 . 4 5.2
1 0 . 8 47.2
5.2
(Newport)
NorthBeach
Beach
North
(Newport)
20
20
313
313
15.7
ts.7
(Newport)
SouthBeach
South
(Newport)
Beach
33
33
220
ZZ0
6.7
6.1
4g.Z 12.7
20.0
Z0.O48.2
!2.7
28.9
9.7
ZB.9 9.7
0.5
0.5
7.5
7.S 3.6
3.6 35.7
60.7
35.7 60.7
I7.6
.6 17.4
n.4
*
*
Age
Age composition
composition from
frcm biologist
biologist random
random
sample
sampleonly
only
+
+
One
Onetrip
trip only
only
19.3
19.3 19.2
19.z
3.8 49.6
3.8
49.6 45.9
45.9
1.9
1
.9
22.7 13.8
zz.7
l3.B
0.7
A.7