Scientists, lawmakers, and those who make their living from Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay are teaming up to hunt for the reason why quahogs appear to be on the decline. The shells of the large, hard-shelled clam were used by the indigenous Narragansett people as wampum. The clam itself is a staple of clam chowders and in 1987, the Rhode Island Legislature designated the quahog the official “Rhode Island State Shell.”On Tuesday, a special Rhode Island legislative commission held a hearing to study the reduced catch. They don’t move much other than the first 2 to 3 weeks of their lives when they are larvae, according to Conor McManus, of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Quahogs will traditionally start spawning in mid-June first in coves along Narragansett Bay and progress through the season.

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Persons: Quahogs —, Conor McManus, Quahogs, we’ve, ” McManus, There’s, McManus, ”, Jim Boyd, “, ” Boyd Organizations: Rhode Island Legislature, Rhode, Rhode Island State Shell, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Locations: Rhode, Narragansett, Rhode Island, ”, Island, quahogs