Of the several species of wedge clams of the family Donacidce that occur on
the east and west coasts of India in the surf-beaten sands, Donax scortum
to some and Donax cuneatus to a very large extent are valued as food by
many people. In the Palk Bay, ail along the beach from Pillaimadam shore
<Long. 79° 5' and Lat. 9° 17') to Attankarai (Long. 79° 0' and Lat. 9° 21'), a
distance of about seven miles, the receding tides reveal Donax cuneatus in
abundance. It forms the food of a large number of fishermen along the
coast when the sea is rough and the general fishery conditions poor. It is
usually fished only during such off-seasons and is not sold in the open, market.
The clam meat is cooked whole or made into a paste and treated with condiments
in the preparation of curries. Dead shells of these clams, washed
ashore, are collected by the womenfolk for preparing lime. However, at
present there is no regular fishery of these clams for food or any organised
lime burning industry, with the result that this valuable resource is wasted
without being much utilized. The present investigation was taken up with
a view to exploring the possibilities of exploitation of this resource of food
without any undue damage to the beds
