Quahog Clam (also Quahaug): Its name is derived from the Narraganset Indian word poquauhock, found in English texts as far back as 1753. Also known as the round clam, this is an East coast favorite. Generally recommended for eating raw and in chowders, depending on the size. Quahogs are hermaphrodites, meaning they are born of the male sex and change to female as they mature, remaining female for the rest of their lives. Smaller clams are best for eating raw. Quahogs also include Littlenecks and Cherrystones, which are simply smaller in size.
• Littleneck Clam: Small quahogs less than 2-3/4 inches are so named for Littleneck Bay on Long Island, New York. Generally recommended for eating raw and in chowders.
• Cherrystone Clam: Up to 3 inches, these are named for Cherrystone Creek, Virginia and take up to four years to reach their size. Generally recommended for eating raw and cooking. This is usually what you get when ordering clams on the half-shell.
• Pismo Clam: Named for the coastline city of Pismo Beach, California, where they were first found. Scarcity due to its popularity with both humans and sea otters has resulted in strict guidelines requiring the clam to be at least five inches to be harvested. It is large, tender, and sweet. The connector muscle can be served raw, while the remainder is normally cooked after removal of the stomach (dark portion). These are particularly good deep-fried.
• Butter Clams: From the Puget Sound area, these are small, sweet clams usually eaten raw. They are also known as moneyshells, as the Native American Indians used the shells for money.
• Longneck Clam: It is found in colder waters of the northern seas from the Arctic Ocean to Cape Hatteras and Pacific waters north of San Francisco. They are usually less expensive than other types and easiest to dig for. Generally recommended for steaming, frying, and chowder.
• Manila Clam: Imported from the Orient after 1900, this variety (Venerupis japonica) of littleneck is now a dominant species in the Northwest. Generally recommended to be eaten cooked.
• Razor Clam: Named for its sharp shell and its resemblance to a straight-edge razor, the East coast variety of this clam (Ensis directus) is not as easy to catch as its West coast counterpart, and thus not as popular. However, the unrelated Pacific razor clam (Siligua patula) is quite popular on the West Coast and is considered to have superior flavor. Recommended for frying and soups.
• Geoduck Clam: Related to the giant clam, this odd-looking variety (Panopea generosa) grows over eight inches in length and can weigh in at over five pounds, although most are harvested at under three pounds. Some varieties in the deep sea can grow to over one hundred pounds. The word geoduck (pronounced "gooey-duck") first appeared in print in 1883 and comes from the Nisqualli Indian word for "dig deep." (You may also see it spelled gweduck.) Digging deep is indeed how they are harvested commercially, from trenches sometimes up to seventy feet deep. The neck of the geoduck, which can be several feet long, can often be spotted sticking out of the sand during very low tides, since it cannot be withdrawn into its shell. Even at low tide, the body of the clam may be as much as four feet below the sand, requiring a tenacious digger.
