Tidepool Tim says,  “Soft-shelled clams have soft shells compared to hard shell clams like the quahog or surf clam and this is how they get their name.  They range along the east coast from Canada all the way south into Maryland and Virginia. Some folks call them "piss-clams" as they squirt water up out of the sand and mud as one is walking across the sand and mud.  These clams have a long neck or siphon tube that allow them to bury deep in the substrate but still reach up to the surface of the sand and filter feed. They feed on plankton year round but do most of their feeding, growing, and spawning in the summer months. These clams have a strong foot that allows them to dig into the sand and mud.  A close look at their shells reveal growth rings - their shells are formed by secreting a calcium-rich substance from an organ called the mantle.  By reading the rings, it is possible to age the clam as it too exhibits rings of summer growth (wide) versus the narrower rings of winter growth that are narrower due to the low levels of plankton food.  Most clams harvested and eaten by humans are in the 2 - 4 years of age. clams are either male or female and spawn in the mid-summer.  Clam larvae drift around for approximately 1 month before settling out of the water column as plankton and settling into the bottom and dig in.  Many are eaten by seagulls, crabs, and even worms - lucky for the clams though - millions survive and the species continues to succeed!  We call these 'steamer' clams and consider them a tasty treat to go along with lobsters - yum!”