The soft shell clam or longneck is a type of small clam ideal for steaming, frying and as part of a clam bake. It has a thin brittle shell which is easily broken so care must be taken in handling them. It lives about 18-25 cm (7-10”) under the surface of tidal mudflats. As they hold their siphons aloft and use them to draw in seawater from which food is filtered, and the waste is then expelled, it is sometimes possible to spot where a clam might be buried. This is the clam classically the target of the clam dig and these holes help a great deal in the process. Applying pressure to the mud can encourage the clam to send up a spit of water, making them easier to locate. When caught it is recommended to let them clean up in some saltwater for a few days and adding cornmeal to the water is said to facilitate this process.
Soft shell clams are particularly popular in the US and well known in New England. They are also found in the UK and in the North Sea, but it is the clam dig and the clam bake of New England, and as a constituent of chowders for which is best known.
