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The Journals
of Lewis and Clark: The Shellfish
The following
excerpts are taken from entries of the Journals of Lewis
and Clark - Shellfish. A general description of the beasts,
Shellfish and Shellfish, &c. found by the party in this
expedition.
Of
shell fish we observe the clam, periwinkle, common muscle,
the cockle, and a species with a circular flat shell.
The clam of this coast are very small; the shell consists
of two valves, which open with hinges: the shell is smooth,
thin, of an oval form like that of the common muscle, and
of skyblue color. It is about one and a half inches in length
and hangs in clusters to the moss of the rocks: the natives
sometimes eat them.
The periwinkle both of the river and the ocean, are similar
to those found in the same situation on the Atlantic coast.
The common muscle of the river are also the same with those
on the rivers of the Atlantic coast: the cockle is small,
and resembles much that of the Atlantic: there is also an
animal that inhabits a shell perfectly circular, about three
inches in diameter, thin and entire on the margin, convex
and smooth on the upper side, plain on the under part, and
covered with a number of minute capillary fibres, by means
of which it attaches itself to the sides of the rocks: the
shell is thin, and consists of one valve; a small circular
aperture is formed in the centre of the under shell: the
animal is soft and boneless.
The pellucid substance and fuci. The pellucid jelly-like
substance, called the sea-nettle, is found in great abundance
along the strand, where it has been thrown up by the waves
and tide: there are two species of the fuci thrown up in
that manner: the first species at one extremity consists
of a large vesicle or hollow vessel, which will contain
from one to two gallons: it is of a conic form, the base
of which forms the extreme end, and is convex and globular,
bearing at its centre some short, broad, and angular fibres:
the substance is about the consistence of the rind of a
citron mellon, and three-fourths of an inch thick: the rind
is smooth from the small extremity of the cone; a long hollow
cylindric and regular tapering tube extends to twenty or
thirty feet, and is then terminated with a number of branches,
which are flat, half an inch in width, rough, particularly
on the edges, where they are furnished with a number of
little ovate vesicles or bags of the size of a pigeon's
egg: this plant seems to be calculated to float at each
extremity, while the little end of the tube, from whence
the branches proceed, lie deepest in the water: the other
species seen on the coast towards the Killamucks, resembles
a large pumpkin; it is solid, and its specific gravity is
greater than the water, though sometimes thrown out by the
waves: it is of a yellowish brown color; the rind smooth,
and its consistence is harder than that of the pumpkin;
but easily cut with a knife: there are some dark brown fibres,
rather harder than any other part, which pass longitudinally
through the pulp or fleshy substance which forms the interior
of this marine production.
Accounts of the
Fish
Accounts of the
Animals
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