In New Hampshire it is called Qua-hogging, some even call it the work of the devil. However, my fellow Baymen and I in Oyster Bay, New York, call them clams. There are many kinds of clams that can be “clammed”, I would like to focus on the hard clam “Mercenaria mercenaria”. The socio-economic impact of cockle fishing impacts both the Baymen, their communities, and the Quahogs. Clam fishing shaped entire communities in the New England region, creating a certain type of population and ensuring the success of the quahog in the New England region. The commercial clam industry is particularly focused on a sleepy little town called Oyster Bay, New York. In Oyster Bay, New York alone, the clam's effect can be noticed just by driving through town. Dirty, smelly clam boats line the walkways, the town's large dock loading ramps are in constant use, stores selling clamming equipment litter the town, and the local public high school's mascot is a man in a boat called “Bayman”. For good reason, this town loves the quahog. Commercial cockle fishing has made it possible for anyone with a home in the Town of Oyster Bay, a recent LIPA bill, proof of residency, as well as approximately $2,000 in startup costs, to start their own fishing business to hulls (Municipal Clerk's Office). However, the action and knowledge of how to clam and all the information you need to know is a closely guarded secret that can only truly be learned by trying it. And can only be mastered after years of practice. Most clams won't tell you what you need or how to do it, unless you work for them as a "Cull-boy" and find out for yourself what exactly they do and how . First it requires all the proper equipment such as a Bull-rake and many different sections of 10 feet long each to adjust...... middle of paper ...... sica Leahy and Kathleen Bell . “Interactions between human communities and estuaries of the Pacific Northwest: trends and implications for management.” Estuaries. 26.4 (August 2003): 994-1009. Print.The WaterFront Center, . “History of Shelving”. LI sound awareness. Friends of the Bay, The clam association. Oyster Bay, on the Cristeen, Oyster Bay, New York. January 2, 2000. Conference."Geert Hofstede: Cultural diversity. - Free online library." Free news, magazines, newspapers, journals, reference articles and classic books - Free Online Library. Internet. November 7, 2010. “Smithsonian Marine Station Fort Pierce.” http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/mercen_mercen.htm. Smithsonian Marine Station, November 8, 2004. Web. December 12 2010. .