THE ECONOMIC MOLLUSCA OF ACADIA. 75 



France, they are considered good throughout the year, but at 

 their best in August and September, 



In the United States, New York is the centre of its use as 

 food. Considerable quantities are there pickled and sent 

 inland. The total annual value of the Mussel fishery in the 

 United States is estimated at about 837,500, but of this a small 

 part only is for its use as food; its chief value is as a fertilizer. 

 In Acadia, it is buc little used for food. It is very rarely 

 used by the fishermen, and is quite unknown in the markets 

 of St. John. In Halifax, Willis said of it thirty years ago, that 

 it could be purchased in the markets when in season, of large 

 .size and fine flavor, for about two shillings sterling per bushel. 

 It is still sold in the Halifax markets, though in small 

 quantities. The usual price is ten cents for a half-peck, or 

 about fifty or sixty cents a bushel. 



In Prince Edward Island it does not appear to be used at 

 all for food. 



As to its general excellence as an article of food there can 

 be no question. Some tables, to show its value compared 

 with other shell-fish, will be found in the introduction (p. 9). In 

 Europe, it is eaten by all classes, but is especially a luxury of 

 the poor. Gould says that he has been "assured by a friend 

 of acknowledged good taste, that when cooked it is more 

 palatable than the common Clam;" and in this opinion many 

 others will concur. But at the same time, it is undoubtedly 

 true that there are persons who not only dislike them, but to 

 whom they are very injurious. Each person must determine 

 this for himself, using them at first with caution.* 



It is true, also, that in addition to this occasional constitu- 

 tional danger. Mussels are sometimes, though very rarely, 

 really in themselves poisonous, and injure everybody who may 

 eat of them. Such cases, however, are no more frequent 

 than poisoning by eating partridges in the spring is with us, 

 and not nearly so frequent as is poisoning from eating canned 

 fruits and meats. This, therefore, should be no hindrance to 

 their use, proper precautions being observed. 



♦The symptoms, which must serve as dnnger-signals, are great swelling in the 

 iiead and the abdomen and the appearance of red spots on both. 



