How to be a low water eco-system bivalve extractor.

                                                                              2007

   Growing up in Houghs Neck, Bi-valve extraction was something you learned at an early age. Now a days I do all my hunting on the bay side of Duxbury Beach. A license is needed and non- residents pay $110.00 a season for the privilege. The flats that run from the marsh near the bath house to the Gurnet lighthouse are teeming with clams. Steamers or soft shelled clams can be harvested during the months of April and May in the spring and September and October in the fall. most winters the Duxbury Board of Selectmen will open the flats on Wednesdays for steamers. Littlenecks, cherrystones, and quahogs can be harvested year round. Also available are razor clams, sea clams, mussels and scallops. Duxbury Harbormaster, Don Beers, runs a tight ship and expect to be challenged for your license every time you go. There are many good spots to harvest clams and getting to them is easy. Steamers can be found relatively close to the high tide mark. Usually about 3 hours after the high tide you can find and dig steamers. Most of the others are found further out on the flats. Cherrystones and sea clams are found in the soft mud. In summer you can walk in the mud and feel them with your feet. Then pick them up and put them in your basket. You can even do it in the shallow waters beyond the low tide mark.  Duxbury Beach is a great place to spend time with the family; permits for 4 wheel drive vehicles, clam licenses and dog walking permits can be bought at the Duxbury town offices. Call 781-934-1131  

To cook steamers, place in a pot with a cover. Use a pot that will be filled to the top with the amount of clams you have. Do NOT add water. Turn heat on high. Soon the pot will boil over. Lift the cover and if the top clams are open remove from heat and serve with broth and melted butter. Don't overcook!!!

Little necks and cherrystones can be eaten raw and are delicious. Quahogs and sea clams make good chowder and cod bait. The beach is beautiful and worth the price even if you didn't take clams.

This area is near the beach house. This is 3 hours after the tide and I filled the bucket in no time. Beautiful white clams are found high on the beach. Get out while the gittins good.

10 lbs x $4.00 = $40 and this is only once.