''
$"
u.-+ {"L
a
l.
1
PLEASE RETURN
R€TURN TO:
PLEASE
To'
NORTHWEST COASTAL
COASTAL INFORMATION
IN
NORTHWEST
c ENTER
CENTER
MAR,N
o.s.u.
ESCIENCE
r.,.s.o.Tf*'SN
Q.S,U
MARINE
CENTER
NSWPORT. oREGoN
REWPORT,
OREGON 9736s
97365
5 0 3 . a 6 7 . 3 0 1*,
503867301
SHELLFISH
II{VESTTGATION
SHELLFISH
INVESTIGATION
REPORT
INFORMATION
NO.
INFORMATION
REPORT NO.
75-2
75-2
FISHERY
THE1973
RAZOR
1973
CLAM
THE
RAZOR
CLAM
FiSHERY
by
by
Terry
Llnk
Terry Link
$
0regon
Flsh CoøiniSsiOfl
Cormissionof Oregon
Fish
Managsnent
Management&&Research
Research Oivlsion
Division
June1975
1975
June
.
THE1973
RAZOR
1973RAZOR
CLAtvl
FISHERY
THE
CLAM
FISHERY
INTROOUCTION
I NTRODLJCT ION
Raaor
from March
clam diggers
diggers were
sampledfrom
l4archthrough
throughSeptember
Razor clam
were sampled
on
September
on Clatsop
Clatsopbeaches
beaches
I
for
and age
age composition
compositionof
the clams
of the
clarnsharvested
harvestedand
for nrsnber
number and
andthe
the distribution
dlstributlon and
andnumber
nunber
of digger;.
of
digger.
lbta from
frqn beaches
beachessouth
permitted.
south of
of Tillamook
TlllamookHead
Headwas
Data
was collected
collected as
as time
tlme permitted.
Samplesof
of razor
razor clams
frcxnClatsop
clans from
Ctatsopbeaches
beacheswere
collectectfor
forr the
$ere collected
Samples
0rcgonState
State Health
llealth
the Oregon
.
Oivlslon for
for shellfish
shellflsh toxicity
toxiclty analysis.
releaseof
of 3,200
Division
analysis. AA release
3,200clams
madefor
clamswas
for
wasmade
growthand
and mortali{y
rate comparisons
from1952-1954.
comparisons
with data
data from
1952-1954.
growth
mortality rate
with
SPORT
FISHERY
SPORT
FISHERY
.
The
produced725,000
1973season
seasonproduced
dugon
dlggentrips
725,000clams
on 76,000
76,000digger
clamsdug
trlps to
The 1973
Clatsop
to Clatsop
(Flgure1),
beaches. Compared
Conpared
beaches.
to the
the 1972
1972season
lncreaseIn
season(Figure
to
10.2Sincrease
ln digger
l), aa 10.2%
dlgger trips
and
a 13.3%
lncreasein
13.31increase
in the
the number
and a
of
number
of clams
clamsdug
dugwas
Thetwo-mile
wasobserved.
observed. The
two-mllelong
long
Seaslde
beachaccounted
accountedfor
for 57.8%
57.8$of
of the
the digger
digger trips
and65.6%
65.5Sof
Seaside beach
trips and
of the
the clams
clamsdug.
dug,
Table1I lists
llsts the
the
Table
harvest, catch
catch rates
rates and
and number
numberof
of digger
digger trips
trips by
by statistical
statlsfical area.
area.
harvest1
Clam
estlmatedby
by using
using the
the 1966-70
1966-70average
averageof
of 18.0%.
Clam wastage
wastage was
was estimated
18.0fr.
e.0
2.O
1.8
1.8
.
1
.6
1.6
1.4
1.4
l.e
1.2
o
E
ctt
'a
1
.0
1.0
'3. 8
6
rts
'4C'
0
a.6
c
o
=.4
:E
I
rALl\
\coriiiERczAL
.2
/t\S\
\.,
.
-
I
I
I
\_
I
I
1947 49
1947
49
5t
51
Flgure1.
1.
Figure
AnnualNumber
of Clams
from1946
Present,Shadded
Area
Number
ClannDug
Dugfrom
to Present,
Annual
of
Area
1946to
Shadded
Indlcates
t'fasted
Indicates Number
Number of
of Clams
Wasted
Clams
.j,-j.j< ................... :. -.- ----
53
53 55
55
57
51
59
59
6t
61
65
63 65
63
67
67
69
69
71
7t
73
73
-2-2-
o
Table1.
l.
Table
o
Miles of
Area
Number*
Beach_
l'lunber* Beach
Number of
Dlgsgt:iDiggers
Clams/
Trip
Digger Trip
llgger
Number of
Number of
Harvest
tlus Jglams
Clams .t,astejl
Wasted
Total
ClausDug
Clams
lgtal
22,ffi4
22,604
1
1
3.6
3.6
11,052
11,052
9,3
93
102,976
102,976
z
I6.a
'6.2
9,441
9,441
7.A
7.0
66,527
66,527
14,603
14,603
81,130
81,130
3
3
5.0
5.0
5,380
5,380
4.9
4.9
?6,432
26,432
5,802
5,802
32,234
32,234
4
4
1,2
1.2
6,318
6,318
8
.4
8.4
53,025
53,025
11,640
11,640
64,665
64,665
5
5
e
.0
2.0
44,054
44,054
10.8
10.8
475,723
475,723
LA4,427
104,427
580,15t)
580,150
2
o
of Diggers
Dlggsrsby
Nunber
by
andNumber
of
Clamsand
Razor Clams
llarrrestof Razor
Sport
SportHarvest
Septerber,1973
Marchto
to September,
1973
Beaches,
March
frcmClatsop
ClatsopBeaches,
Area
Area from
1e5,580
125,580
i
o
o
Total
Total
*l
*1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
-*---
18.0
18.0
9.5
9.5
159,076
159,076
883,759
883,759
which weriB
were
four year
old clams,
clans' whlch
cease ln
in three
three and
and four
year old
lncrease
the
the slight
slight inc
the
frcm that
of the
that of
varled ltttle
little from
plentlful
compositionvaried
on outslde
outside bars,
1973 age
age composition
the 1973
bars, the
plentiful on
yearsas
Figure2.
prev{ousfive
?.
five years
in Figure
seenIn
previous
as seen
o
7?4,683
724,683
Road
Park Road
Fort Stevens
StevensPark
Rlver to
to Fort
Columbia River
Colwrbla
Road
BeachRoad
Fark Road
Roadto
SunsetBeach
to Sunset
Fort
Fort Stevens
StevensPark
Road
BeachRoad
Roadto
GearhartBeach
BeachRoad
to Gearhart
Sunset
Sunset Beach
Rlver
Roadto
NecanlcunRiver
BeachRoad
to Necanicum
Gearhart
GearhartBeach
Rlver to
llead
Tillamok Head
Necanlctrn
to Tillamook
Necanicum River
for
Except
Exceptfor
o
76,245
76245
July
untll late
late July
shol until
The
set dldn't
dldnrt show
The1973
1973set
Adverse
5. Adverse
Areas1,
and5.
in Areas
1' 44 and
fall set
observedin
set was
wasobserved
late fall
A large
August. A
large late
and
and August.
few tides.
only aa few
tidesn'
flshery to
to only
winter fishery
fall and
andearly
early winter
the fall
llmitEd the
weatherconditions
weather
condltlons limited
,$
FISHERY
C0tIERCIAL
FISHERY
COI,fl{ERCIAI
o
1
Area
comrcrclaldiggers.
dlggers. :$nea
(89,207clams)
by 111
111commercIal
pounds
dugby
weredug
In
(89,207
clams)were
tn 1973,
1g73,16,030
16,030pounds
goodcatches
produced
In
barsproduced
good
cat,cfrcg
boatbars
Area11 boat
produced
harvest. Area
67.7%afofthe
thetotal
total harvest.
5 produced
6?.7f
!li ? i
['by and
June.
May
and June.
o
Coemercial diggers
diggers were
were notlfied
notified in
in Septenber
September that
that the
the sheltflsh
shellfish harvesterrs
harvesters
Comnerclal
for human
human
consu$tlbn but
consumptiOn
(0RS6ge.080)
sell clams
clans for
permit
to sell
be needed
neededto
permit (ORS
622.080)would
wouldstltl
still be
Hit
'',
fee.
be no
no fee.
there
would be
there sould
o
rj
o
60
1968
60
40
40 -
2020
o
0,
0
I
1
_:
0.1
I
60
o
l{,
1969
60
r.li
4040
2:
2g
o
1
I
0.7
4,7
I
60
60.
,L
0
0.1
.1
$,
i&{'
,li
1970
404A
o
o20
a)
|'f
20
Jf,,
dfu,
'!i
f
+,
s0
(,
t-
o
'V
860
0
I
I
- __
0.4
60
0.1
1971
40 20 -
o
______
0
i __ 0.7
r
60
60
o
r
L
4040
20
___
o
0
I
_
0.3
0.3
60
60 -
0.1
0 .t
1973
4A 40
I
o
V
1972
2A
I
o
____
20 e0
oT
_
0
0
1 _
0.1
V
1
2
3
4
5
Age
Age
I
o
Flgure2.
Figure
2,
Percentage
Percentage Age
Age Composltlon
Composition of
of Sport
Sport Razor
Razor Clans
Clams fisn
from
ClatsopBeaches,
Clatsop
Beaches,
1968-73.
1968-73.
I
41{ . '
o
t
-4.4..
'
Iha reduction
The
minimum length
from 4-l/4
4-1/4 to
3-3/4 llrclnr
Inches hrs
has hrd
had llttle
little rilect
affect
In mlnlnnrm
length frsn
to 3-3/4
ruductfonIn
glvenage
but
dld not
not change
but clams
clars of
of aa given
ageclass
ctasswere
rnre
flrhsry. Age
Agecomposition
change
sn
on the
ths fishery.
conFosltlondid
o
lncreasein
in the
dug
at a
a smaller
size,as-lndicated
nuater
of clarc
clams per
per
theincrease
tlx average
average
ru&er of
bythe
dugat
as lndlcatedby
smallerslze,
(prevlous
yearaverage)
to 5.6
in 1974.
1974.
pound
from 4.1
4.1(prevlous
55year
to
average)
5.6in
Fuld frur
4e r '
ALERT,
PARALYTIC SHEILFISH
SHELLFISH POISONING
ALERT
POISONING
PARALYTIC
o
,
June19,
ieporteda
On
a hlgh
high toxln
toxin level
level of
of
State Health
Dlvislon reported
0n June
tlre Oregon
HealthDivision
lg, 1973
lg73 the
0regonState
Conyauiaz
ln shellfish.
shellflsh.
CpWantnoat.nel2a
serctb in
pro{fblted
The
harvest
rlasprohibited
harvestof
razorclams
clam was
of raáor
Thecommercial
cosmerclal
potentlal health
publlc was
generalpublic
healthhazard.
andthe
warned
of the
the potential
hazald.
on all
all ttregon
Oregon beaches
and
of
beaches
uaswarned
m
the general
o
contained
of
110micrograms
mlcrograms
of toxin
toxln but
butwere
rere
Clatsopbeaches
Razor
clam samples
from Clatsop
sarples frcm
beaches
contalned110
Rarorclarn
lf cleaned
considered
safe
well.
safeif
cleaned
well.
consfdsred
ilune26,
1973.
lifted June
clamdigging
Theban
razor clam
dlgglngwas
uns llfted
?5'1973.
The
ban on
on razor
be wary
wary of
of the
Tha
razor clams
tfie rest
of razor
clamsthrough
thrcughthe
rcst of
the
The general
general public
contlnuedto be
rubllc continued
o
pound
prlce to
to commercial
Prccessors
70t aa pound
ln the
shell to
comnerctal
diggers
summer. Processors
lowered
in
diggers
the shell
stmuer.
loweredthe
the price
to 104
ln Oregon
0regon
The last
levels of
of shellfish
of high
htghlevels
shellflsh toxicity
toxlc{ty in
due
dueto
of sales.
recordof
to lack
hck of
saleg. The
last record
r€portcdIn
In 1957.
was
res reported
195t.
o
TILLA$OOK
HEAI}
RAZOR
CLAM
PRODUCTION
SOUTH
OF
HEAD
OFTILLAMOOK
PROOWTIO$I
SOI'TH
RAZOR
CLA}I
permttted. The
Thenumber
nwrberof
of
Beaches
south
11 amook Head
Head were
were sarnpled
sampled as
as time
tim permitted.
Tlllamook
Beaches
of Ti
southof
o
per digger
for those
Table22 for
rmpled.
in Table
arca$sampled.
clams
are listed
llst€d in
thoseareas
andcatch
dtggerare
rmlcd and
catchper
clm sampled
(CoosBay).
andBastendorff
8Ey}.
(Newport) and
Euterdorff Beach
Serch(Coos
Good
digging was
on
on South
SouthBeach
Beach(flewport}
6ooddlgg{ng
uar observed
obseryed
providedto
and
city of
of Tillamook
Tlllanpokand
to the
the city
wasprovided
Information
ralor clam
Inforwtlon on
avallabilfty was
on razor
clan availability
o
S.
o
o
for beaches
Cannon
Beach
In
Cannon
Beachfor
ln their
oreas.
beaches
thelr areas.
"
lfead,1973
Tlltamok Heads
Southof
of Tillamook
1973
South
fromBeaches
Beaches
Table2.
RarorClam
ClamCatch
CatrhData
Batafrom
Table
2. Razor
rio. ol
rio. 01
Diggers
Clams
Indian Beach
Beach
13
Indfan
13
Cannon
Beach
SannonBeach 33
Arch-Cape
2
Cepe
2
Arch
Cove
16
l6
$ovaBeach
Eeach
2
Short
Short Sand
$and
2
377
South
$outlrBeach
Seach 377
Yachats
Yachats
15
l5
Bastendorff
1
I
Sasterdot{f'
155
155
0
0
0
0
105
105
41
41
3,617
3,617
86
86
18
l8
U
iqe onipusmon 1nrrcerI9u
jams,
Digger
11.9
11.9
0.0
0
.0
0.0
0.0
6.6
6.6
20.5
e0.5
9.6
9
.6
5.7
5
.7
18.0
18.0
1
3
36.3 21.2
21.2
32,7 35.3
4.9
4.9 32.7
0.0
0.0
73.2
73.2
3.1
3.1
35
3.5
2.3
2,3
4-
4.9
4.9
5
6
0.0 0.0
0.0
0.0
36.2 22.8
22,8
7
.6 8
7.6
8.6
, 6 21.0
A l . 0 36.2
0.0
0 . 0 0.0
24.4
2 , 4 0.0
0 . 0 0.0
24,4 2.4
{,5
9 . 7 4.5
13.0 38.5
38,5 8.7
32.2
32.2 13.0
0.0
0.0
0
.
0
0
.0
0.0
0
.
0
0.0,
96.5
96.5 0.0
0.8
0
.8
0.0
6.3
0
.
0
7,1 6,3
83.5
8
3 . 5 7.1
3.8.
3.e
0.0
0,0
0.0
0.0
0.0.
0.0
0.0
0
.0