THE ECONOMIC MOLLUSC A OF ACADIA. 45' 



pounds, are consumed annually. The consumption in other 

 places is enormous also, and many hundreds of people are 

 employed in collecting them. The average selling price is 

 one penny a pint. It is eaten in France and probably in other 

 parts of Europe. There, as with us, it is boiled in salt and 

 water, and the animal extra(;ted with a pin. In France, and 

 perhaps elsewhere, pins are placed beside the plates of diners 

 when these animals are served. 



In Acadia our people are beginning to appreciate it. We 

 do not know that it is as yet eaten by the fishermen, but in 

 St. John, Ml'. J. A. Turner estimates about one hundred and 

 fifty bushels per year are consumed. Of these, a few come 

 from Nova Scotia, but the greater quantity are collected by 

 hand at and near Point Lepreaus. They sell for about two 

 dollars per bushel wholesale in St. John. A few have been 

 exported to Montreal. 



It Nova Scotia, in Willis' time, twenty-five to thirty years 

 ago, it was not used for food. At present large quantities 

 are sola in the Halifax markets. They are gathered on the 

 neighboring coasts and sell for five or six cents per quart. 

 At Bedford Basin, Point Pleasant and other places, the resi- 

 dents on the shores gather them for their own use. 



In Prince Edward Island, Mr. J. H. Duvar says it is not 

 eaten. 



It would doubtless form good bait, but is more valuable 

 for other purposes. Its habit of cleaning sea-weeds from hard 

 surfaces, utilized as mentioned above by oyster-culturists, may 

 become of importance to us if there ever should be on our 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence coast, as nature appears to have 

 intended there should, a system of Oyster-culture. 



As the Periwinkle becomes better known^ it will be exten- 

 sively used, and a time will come when the demand will press 

 hard upon the supply. Though it can never approach the 

 Oyster or the Lobster in value, we should none the less take 

 lesson from the fate of their fishery. As Periwinkles are so- 

 small, the young are almost valueless and are hence not likely 

 to be taken; but the reproductive season should be carefully 

 determined for our waters, and during that time they should 



