Everyone has heard of relay races, but how about a shellfish relay? Nearly 50,000 quahogs were harvested from the Taunton River in Somerset, driven to Wareham, and placed in Broad Cove in Onset on Monday.

The relay is part of a state program that allows towns to purchase shellfish from areas that are considered conditionally closed to fishermen due to water quality. The shellfish are transported to clean water, where they stay for several months, in order to allow impurities to be washed away.  The clams are "filter-feeders," meaning that they siphon water across their gills and remove algae and other microscopic organisms, including impurities, before the water is expelled.

Once the week-long relay is complete, Broad Cove and areas of Sunset Cove will have received about 450,000 quahogs to supplement the existing population and contribute to next year's offspring when they "spat."

"The more quahogs I can put out there, the more can spat out, and the more we'll have down the road," said Harbormaster Michael Parola.

Broad Cove will be opened to fishermen in November, Parola said.

Workers hoisted the 80-pound bags of clams, ranging in size from cherrystones to a few "chowders" off of a trailer and into two boats. The noticeably weighed-down vessels made their way through the cove, with workers distributing the quahogs throughout the area before returning to the shore to pick up more.

Recreational fishermen will be able to take home one peck of quahogs per week (Monday through Saturday) when the area opens in the fall. The area will be open twice-weekly for commercial fishermen, who will be able to pick up three bushels per day.

Video: A shellfish relay