m. GLOSSARY OF TERMS. 



W. AN OYSTERMAN'S DICTIONARY. 



63. PHEASES AND WOEDS DESCEIPTIVE OF MOLLUSKS AND OTHER ENTEETEBEATES OP 



THE ATLANTIC COAST. 



Abalone. — Sea ear-shells, Raliotis, of various species, chiefly IT. Gracherodii. (Southern California.) 



Abalone-meat. — The dried animal of Haliotis. Used as food, and exported in large quantities, annually, in a 

 dried condition. (California.) 



Abalone -SHELLS. — The shells of flaKo<Js, prepared for commerce. Extensively used in the manufacture of 

 buttons aud other articles, and for ornamental purposes. (Califoruia.) 



Ambulance. — A box with bottom and top of wire netting, in which the " collectors", covered with young oysters, 

 are placed to protect them from their enemies, while the water is freely admitted. (France.) 



Aek. — A house on a scow or other floating hulk, used as a work- and store-house in winter. (Connecticut.) See 

 Scow. 



Bank. — The oyster colony or locality where they grow. (South.) See Bed, Rod; Bar, etc. 



Barnacle. — The slipper-limpet, Crepidula sp.; also, true barnacles. (Cape May, New Jersey.) At Cape May 

 limpets are called "barnacles", and confounded by many with the true barnacles. They grow very fast, 

 apparently, for I have seen them fully half-size on the new year's growth (or "bill") of an oyster, showing 

 that they attained all that size in a single season. When limpets grow on oysters the planter knows the 

 oysters are doing well, and he expects them to prove fot and highly profitable. The explanation, I suppose, 

 is that the attachment of limpets shows the oysters to be free from slime — clean aud healthy — or the limpet 

 spawn would not be able to attach itself. 



Basket-fish. — Astropliyton Ayassizii, a kind of many-armed starfish. 



Bateau. — A small, flat-bottomed boat, like a sharpie, used for moving about the oyster-beds, for clamming, and 

 other light work. (Staten Island.) 



Beach la mar. — The Beche le Mer, or Holothurian. (Florida reefs.) See Eathbun's Eeport on Commercial 

 Eadiates. 



Beard. — I. The finely-fringed margin of the oyster's mouth, which shows near the edges of the shells. 



Beard. — II. The protruding byssus of mussels. 



Bed. — The haiik, reef, or deposit of oysters in the water, either growing naturally or artificially, original or trans- 

 planted. 



BeddlnGt. — Transplanting oysters of any size to beds iirepared for them, from which they are to be removed before 

 the frosts of the ensuing winter. See Fatten. 



Bedding-down.— See Bedding. 



Bench. — The broad, sloping platform which runs around the walls of an opening-house, where the oysters are 

 piled for opening. Sometimes a movable table, etc., for opening oysters. 



Bench-oysters. — Those sold at a restaurant or lunch-counter, to be opened for "plate" or "half-shell" custom. 

 See Fancy, Extra. 



Black Mussel.— i%^i7H.s borealis, a variety of Mytilus cdulis. 



Blister. — A young oyster, not larger than a quarter dollar. See Spawn, SjmL (Barnegat to Cape May.) 

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