The 100 Pound Clam

The 100 Pound Clam |

Hans Bugge began operating the clam cannery at Washington Harbor in 1905 as a one-man operation that soon became a thriving enterprise of 40 workers at peak times.

The Bugge Cannery also had four boats, including the J.R. McDonald, the Phoenix, and the Lincoln, for clam transportation.

By 1914, the cannery was lucratively producing 10,000 cases of Tureen brand littleneck clams that were shipped north to Alaska and as far south as San Francisco.

Some of our local residents recall their working experiences: Tom Taylor remembers harvesting clams at night using hats with lamps to light the way.

The late Mrs. Laura Bugge was once asked how she opened the clams, and she replied, “With a can opener.”

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