Bill would name quahog official Mass. shellfish

BOSTON (AP) — The lowly quahog will be the official shellfish of Massachusetts if a bill making its way through the Statehouse becomes law.

The hard-shelled clam has helped feed generations of New Englanders and served as a form of currency for Native American tribes. The word "quahog" is a shortened version of the name given the clam by Narragansett Indians.

The bill that establishes the designation is scheduled for a public hearing Monday at the Statehouse before the Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development.

Taunton students have long pushed for the designation. Students often learn about state government by proposing official emblems for the state.

Other bills at the same hearing would designate TV personality Rex Trailer as the state's official cowboy and volleyball as the official recreational and team sport.