866 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



Rarely, except for European tastes, oysters are sold open, 

 but in bulk with shell on. Such as are not disposed of 

 fresh are cured similarly as are shrimps and fish. 



The oyster season, although the mollusc may be taken 

 at any time, may be viewed to extend, as far as the Gold 

 Coast colony goes, over six months or so of each year, 

 during the rainy season. Oyster collectors make yearly 

 presents to the fetish priests, to invoke and propitiate the 

 god of fish. 



There is a certain danger associated with this industry, 

 for it has been known that persons concerned in the same 

 have fallen victims to sharks and crocodiles. The collec- 

 tion of the raw material can be followed out by any man or 

 woman. Odd to say, among the Yorubas, he who follows 

 the oyster industry is considered as of the lowest grade of 

 society. In the past such a man would be denied marriage 

 in a family of position above his social estimate. Women 

 go in for the collection of mangrove-oysters. Papers of the 

 Conferences held in connection with the great International 

 Fisheries Exhibition, 1883. " West African Fisheries" by 

 Captain C. A. Moloney, C.M.G. 



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