[cross-post snipped]

"Dave Smith" > wrote in message
...

> I have only done it once, but was supervised by
> someone who did it a lot. The simple rule that he
> taught be was to throw out any clam that was open
> in the bag and to throw out any that didn't open when
> cooked.

*All* of the clams which may be open? Seems like you may be wasting a
good few. Everything I've read indicates that giving the shell a tap
should cause a live clam (or other shellfish, for that matter) to
close its shell. If a tap doesn't generate a closed shell, then toss
it. And definitely toss any which don't open when cooked.

-j