Hi Heather,

From what you say it doesn't sound like you did anything wrong. Don't know if you can use too much cornmeal. I have tried using a little cornmeal but have not had any more success with it than straight salt water. We have a vacation place on the water with a clam beach so it is easy for me to leave clams in a bucket on the beach for at least 24 hours, changing the water a few times. Then back in town if I don't deal with them right away I will put them in the fridge, covered in seawater, for up to 2 days. I've had very few butters die during this, and no steamers that I can remember. And I don't know why it wouldn't work to just put them (in seawater) in the fridge right away, letting them "clean themselves out" for a day or two. The cold will deffinitely slow them way down, but shouldn't kill them. Probably shouldn't leave an air-tight lid on them in the fridge, and maybe stir the water a bit once or twice.