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January 26, 1989 - Focus on Nature: Joys of Cold Weather Clammingrid w'is 9 Los Angeles Times S, ndwrl, 75 Author Loos 76 With "The," Later operetta 1905 79 Italian dance 80 Kind of acid 81 Norman ons Vincent 82 It is — better thing..." 84 Clan wear 85 "Slamming 106 Sammy" 87 Evasive 1s action 1 90 Miniatures 92 Boards the Amtrak 94 Colonists .e 97 Patti or Geraldine 99 Condescend 101 Dreadful 104 Wood strips 106 French lawmaking body 108 Playwright O'Neill IOU 110 Site of a Herculean 9., labor 112 Equip again 114 Shadow 115 Sally of space 116 Invitation letters 118 Had on 120 Approach 121 LAPD members 124 Peeve or name 125 '— Dust" N INC 1581 -Dalth Focus on Nature: Joys of Cold Weather Clamming By Paul Stoutenburgh It was one of those wonderful winter days when the real cold left and the sun had a chance to warm the earth enough so you felt like getting out and doing something. It didn't take my son Roger long to convince me that it was a good time to try some clamming. And so, we calculated when low tide would be and set the time. Now I know there are many rugged bay - men who spend most of their winter days out on the bay following their trade. I take my tut off to them for they are a hardy breed and one I'll always bow to. But not being a bag- man, I feel quite differently about venturing out and facing the elements in the middle of winter. Yet there is something special about going out when the elements are contrary. Preparation is always a big part of any ad- venture and it took some time to round up the misplaced clam rakes, old oars, outboard motor, gas cans and other paraphernalia to help make the trip successful. We had faith in the clam rakes. We could see their bare and iron parts were still strong and their fas- tenings secure. There was still a lot of work left in them. The old ash oars were as good as the day they were made —a few knocks and scrapes, but their soul was solid and true. The one piece of equipment we were a bit concerned about, and the reason for the oars, was the old outboard my son had been nurs- ing along through the years. That night he'd taken the top off and got- ten into the guts of it and now with two new spark plugs he thought he had it conquered, but in true outboard fashion the now-chilled motor refused to give even a cough after much yanking and pulling. Soon the top came off and some starter fluid was squirted into the carburetor opening. More yanks and pulls, a few coughs and some blue smoke. She was alive! As we headed out of the creek a small group of bufftehead took off in front of us. They wheeled, banked, gained altitude and set out into the bay. The male, in all his black and white splendor, led the group, with the females lagging behind in their dull blackish - brown winter coats. Further out, away from the houses and the once -busy part of the creek, three black ducks jumped from behind the grasses, climbed high and wide of us. They were the weary ones and they took no chance that man would get dose enough to do them harm. The whitish underparts of their wings flashed in the sun as they disappeared out over the bay. We immediately noticed the bay had lost its brown tide look. The water sparkled clear. The boat sped ahead leaving the chilling winds behind us. We passed the point of land where sun worshippers basked while kids played at the water's edge in summer, but now only a few seagulls rested on its white sands and only their footprints could be seen. We headed for a spot known only to my son. The place he claims he can always get clams. We passed a deserted osprey nest atop a lean- ing pole that reminded me it wouldn't be long before we'd be out repairing and putting up new ones for the coming season. I knew we were getting close as the motor started to slow and soon stopped completely. We drifted silently until the bow of the boat ground on a bar. A great blue heron jumped up and flapped its huge grey -blue wings, trailing its lanky legs behind. We had dis- turbed his fishing, or was he just resting in a sheltered spot in the warm sun of winter? We were glad the water was open and not frozen for if frozen it would have spelled dis- aster for Mr. Longlegs as he could not fish in the shallows. It didn't take long for Roger to get over- board and start raking. Sure enough his spot proved productive and one by one clams were being dropped into the boat. We worked here and there having spurts of luck and then failure. My feet were the only part of me that was cold. We worked in silence mostly but then once in a while we'd speak back and forth about how clear the water was, what a wonderful day, the joy of being out, how great the motor ran. Just talk between father and son that seemed to fit the occasion. After an hour or so we had a fair mess of clams and it was time to head back. Our trip was now into the chilling winds that came across the bay. How cold spray can be at this time of the year. I faced to the stem and could protect myself pretty well but Roger took the brunt of the spray --------- across the bow and covered him with spark- ling white droplets of icy water. A horned grebe fluttered and seemed to run along the water in front of us but before we reached it, it dropped and dove. He knew how to get 87 away from man. Oldsquaws burst out of the water ahead and peeled off to the side, their long tails trailing behind them. It was good to be alive and out on the bay. Back at the dock we reversed our proce- dure; motor, barks, tanks and all loaded into the truck. Then the boat was pulled up and turned over. Back home we were setting up for a feast. There would be clams on the half shell, steamed, baked in the shell and Barbara's clam pie. We would eat high to- night. There was work involved in getting the meal but as we sat around the table all feel- ing full, we agreed we'd have to do it again. Last Week's Solution 0000© muumuu Damon QUEENS MOUmMO muumuu 0001313013 On At. 27 (County Rd, 39 North Hwy f 155 Miles E of Shinnecock Canal) - -- BAYSIDE 718- 886 -7910 u09ngoga©©100o 010111110010113 CABLE PLACE ..... 294 -2900 DEER PARK . 254 -0123 un13 Bonn Opp WOOD use . 0001139 noun Duman Oma ©I ones aMUM Dun Bum NAUPPAUGE .. 582 -3100 n13ga13MMMM0 OWDOMOMOUD LEVITTOWN . 731 -4422 ODUUMO 0000013 muumuu) On Liberty Ave at 96th St + Bring in Primed Proof new OUWUMO asgu9sml .. On Middle City Rd (3 Mi. E. of At. 112) noun amamou Doug now Ono 000011 Mason Dunl Dun 013130 muumuu 09100 m00us130 OuWUOM Duo Womanu 4 -3300 Muumuu 0000130 135eo0gmg1013 WE HAVE MOVED OUR vouu0mu10us now Oman a13am Mau Doug Duane Doss on we woo 10000 Dun Maas Man OWUOamg auuoumuoauumu 101011313009 000000 000113130 eunum magaum DOnMO Smart Shoppers SAY.. 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E. of At. 112) ANY IN T REGO PARK ..... 718 -268 -8155 of Purchase. Price policy OCEANSIDE ............. 764 -3555 PATCHUGUE .... 654 -0500 oa .PRICE r .o�.r,DWN On Queens Blvd ( V2 Block E Of L Expyl excludes camcorders. Atlantic Ave. B Lawson Blvd.. _. .. On Sunrise Hwy. (1 Mi. E. of Vats Hwy.) FREE! 4 -3300 RIVERHEAD -8900 WE HAVE MOVED OUR On L.I. Ex .Exit 4e So. Service Rd. Off ExPEW_.48 So. eryice _._ ........727 Old Ct Rd 1 Blk. E. of Cent1 Suffolk Hos we pU,a,M1TE[rmcs aeroee ne,rTra.o„n oua��xsr s DETAILS IN STORE SPECIAL CLEARANCE OUTLET SHOWROOM DEER PARK, on Commack Rd.3 MI. So. of L.I.E. (Ex. 52) 254 -0123 SHOWROOM HOURS: MON. -FRI. 9 -9:30, SAT. 9 -7, SUN. 11 -5 Supws stock and display mocle)s from s. warehouses 5showrooms ppnco THE SOUTHAMPTON PRESS / JANUARY 26, 1989