The East Hampton Town Trustees’ 32nd annual Largest Clam Contest, set for Sunday, will take place in a modfied form after heavy rains over several days prompted the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to close some harbors to shellfishing this week.
The contest will proceed as planned, starting at noon on the grounds of the trustees’ offices at the Lamb Building, on the corner of Bluff Road and Atlantic Avenue in Amagansett, but only clams from Napeague and Montauk Harbors will be weighed in, as Three Mile Harbor, Accabonac Harbor, and Hog Creek are all closed to shellfishing. Clams from those harbors will still be in the running for the title of Largest Clam, but will be weighed in later this month. Contestants can drop those clams off at the trustee office no later than 4 p.m. on Oct. 21. They will be weighed at some point over that weekend, when the true largest clam will be determined.
This Sunday's event will feature a clam chowder contest, a clam pie showcase, a free raw bar and chowder, a live marine species exhibit hosted by Barley Dunne of the town’s shellfish hatchery, live music, face painting, and an ice cream truck.
The event also showcases the trustees’ role in town government. The trustees own and manage many of the town’s beaches, waterways, and bottomlands on behalf of the public.
Only one entry per person is allowed this year, and commercial baymen are not eligible to compete, as they were in previous years. There is a $1 entry fee. Holders of a valid recreational shellfish license can take their clam contestant to the Amagansett Seafood Store or Stuart’s Seafood Market in Amagansett, or the Montauk Seafood Company or Gosman’s Fish Market in Montauk, no later than 3 p.m. on Saturday. Entries are to be placed in a mesh bag provided by the seafood market, the drawstring pulled tightly, with an entry card including the entrant’s name, telephone number, and date and harbor of capture stapled over the bag.
For the junior category, parents may enter clams for children between 4 and 14 by writing the child’s name and age as well as their name and telephone number on the entry card.
John Aldred of the trustees and Kim Shaw, director of the town’s Natural Resources Department, will judge the largest clam contest.
Entry containers and rules for the clam chowder contest, for which there is also a $1 entry fee, are at the trustees’ office. Entries are to be taken to the Lamb Building on Sunday no later than 11:30 a.m. Those seeking more information have been asked to call the trustees’ office at 631-267-8688.
The food critic and writer Florence Fabricant will serve as a judge of clam chowder entries, along with Sara Davison, executive director of the Friends of Georgica Pond Foundation, and Marie Valenti of Multi Aquaculture Systems. Ms. Fabricant wrote her first food column — for The Star — in 1972.
Those planning to offer a clam pie to the showcase have been asked to include a note about its history — a favorite family recipe, for example — along with their name. Clam pies will be offered along with samples of Mrs. Roman’s Bonac clam chowder, prepared by Paul Roman.
