We probably did a number of things wrong...

1. We put the clams on ice to keep them cool for the drive home...well salty clams on ice=clams in water in no time at all. So they were in fresh water for at least an hour on the drive home.

2. I put in a lot of corn meal, like 1/2 a cup. Way too much I think.

3. We handled them a lot. Washing them switching their water. Took us an hour or so to figure out they were supposed to be in salt water so they were in fresh water, then salt water a couple of times.

4. Didn't have sea salt so made our own salt water with 1 cup table salt with 3 quarts water. We will have sea salt on hand for our next adventure.

It's such a bummer, we were really looking forward to trying the butter clams. The little guys all seem fine, are still spitting and close up if they are open.