quahog
quahaug
hard-shell clam
hard clam
round clam
Venus mercenaria
Mercenaria mercenaria

At one point in time, Great South Bay provided many of the hard clams consumed throughout the region and even the country.

The New York catch produced $8.9 million, making it the state's second most valuable marine product, after hard clams.

Scallop sets are down, the hard clams just aren't setting.

Raritan Bay is thought to have the richest base of hard clams in the country, maybe the world.

"Certainly the numbers for hard clams have been bad in the last several years," he said.

In Vietnam, these hard clams are eaten boiled, steamed, or roasted.

"With hard clams," said Mr. Smith, "the shelf life is shortened and the meat weights are dropped."

The hard clam has many alternative common names.

The Narragansetts would use the hard clam for food and ornaments.

The cownose ray feeds upon clams, oysters, hard clams and other invertebrates.