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Kicker: Abra-clam Lincoln

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WORLD Radio - Kicker: Abra-clam Lincoln

Florida man digging for clams finds a mollusk from the Civil War era


Bucket full of fresh quahogs, edible clams. Buzzard Bay, Massachusetts, USA. iStock.com/Photo by Maleo Photography

NICK EICHER, HOST: Last week Blaine Parker was digging up shellfish along the Florida coast for some homemade chowder.

When he uncovered an unusually large mollusk.

As Parker was preparing to … well, prepare it … he realized he had something really special.

Most ocean quahogs are three to four inches in length and weigh up to a half pound. Parker’s find measured about twice that in length and about five times the weight.

Upon closer examination, he noticed the shell thickness … and, listen, this guy is an expert. It was like counting the rings of a tree-trunk … and he was able to figure this quahog was likely born in 1809—the same year as Abraham Lincoln.

Instead of eating the historic shellfish, Parker donated it to Gulf Specimen Marine Lab where he works.

Oh, and we should mention this important nugget. He made the dig on Presidents Day weekend. So he came up with a clever name …

He named it Aber-clam Lincoln.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: He must be a listener.

EICHER: It’s The World and Everything in It.


WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.

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