State surveys showed that the clam population in the prime clamming area dropped from 8.9 million to 5.1 million from 1993 to 1994.

Many observers are waiting for the outcome of the state's new survey of the clam population.

There was an unaccountable boom in the clam population, he recalled, and he had too much time on his hands.

Mr. Gordon has become part of the problem with regard to the clam population.

They are a serious problem because they have nearly eliminated the native clam population in Platte Lake and many other bodies of water in the area.

He had time on his hands, and the local clam population was booming.

The clam population of a single coral reef would not exceed 20,000.

Though Barnegat Bay is getting cleaner every year, its clam population continues to decline.

The crash in the clam population, which Mr. Wise said began in earnest in about 1977, is generally attributed to overharvesting.

"That's to offset any damage they might do to our clam population," he said.