THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 245 



Geay-beard. — The common hydroid of northern oyster-beds, Sertnlaria argentea. 



Geeen-gill. — In Richmond and Petersburg, and on the York river in Virginia, are to be found in the markets 



what are called " green-gill oysters". Some say they are diseased, and refuse to eat them ; but the oystermcu 



claim that they are perfectly wholesome, but admit that they do not sell very well, because of a prejudice 



against them. The negroes claim that they are the best in Eichmond, and that they are made green by their 



being found with the green sea-weed. 

 GiiLLY Oysters. — Those caught on shoals, etc. (Mobile.) 

 Haie. — Hydroids. The "hair" that oystermen assert grows on their oysters under certain circumstances, is an 



animal growth, which attaches itself to the shell, and is nothing put out by the oyster itself. 

 Hairclam. — Adult specimens of the various species of Arcadce. See Blood Clam. 

 Half-deck. — The slipper limpet, Crepulula fornicata. 



Half-measure. — A tin receptacle for the meats of opened oysters, holding 2i quarts. (New Haven.) See Measure. 

 HA3IPER. — An oyster-basket holding two bushels. (New York.). 

 Hang. — To hang an oyster boat is to tlirust a pole down beside it into the mud and cling to it, without tying. 



(Canada.) I, A, 3. 

 Haed-oyster. — The northern "native" oyster. (Staten Island sound.) 

 Heel. — The umbo of a clam-shell. (Long Island, south shore.) Behind it is to be found "the i>rint of a clam". 



This distinguishes the quahaug from other bivalves, according to the fishermen. 

 Hooker. — I. In sponging, the man who hooks up the sponges ft'om the bottom. (Florida reefs.) 

 Hooker. — II. A tool of any size, consisting of a rod of tough ii'on, bent into more or less of a hook at the end, 



used to pull out the raccoon oysters, and knock the bunches to pieces. (Georgia.) 

 Horse-conch. — The largest species of Triton. (Florida reefs.) 

 HoESE-MUSSEL. — A large species of mussels, Modiola modiolus. 

 Husk. — To remove the shells from an oyster, or "open" it. (Georgia.) 

 Husks. — Oyster-shells. 



Jag. — A lot, parcel, or quantity of oysters of indefinite size; e. g., "I sold a jag of 75 bushels to A, B & Co." 

 Ji^JGLE. — Any species of Anomia. (Long Island sound.) 

 Kettle-ball. — A dredge used in catching scallops, which has the blade adjusted to swing in the eyes of the 



arms, in order to prevent its sinking into the mud of the soft bottom on which it is used. (Ehode Island.) 

 Kitchen-oyster. — Small oyster for cooking. (New Orleans.) 

 Knife-handle. — See Razor- fish. (Massachusetts bay.) 

 Ladle-shell. — INIoUusks of the genera Fulgur and iSycotijims. 

 Layer. — An artificial oyster-bed. (Eugland.) 



Line-conch. — A species of mollusks, Fasciolaria distans. (Florida reefs.) 

 Little Eed Clam. — Common name for (juahaug, Venus mercenaria. 



Loaded. — An oyster is said to be loaded when it is coated with annelid tubes. See Sand Up. (Ehode Island.) 

 London Stock. — Oysters culled out for the foreign market; about three years old, small, round, and cup-shaped. 



See Cullins, etc. 

 Long Clajni. — Sea Razor-fish. (Massachusetts bay.) 



Meadow Mussel. — In Great South bay. Long Island, the Mijiilus j)Ucatula which grows on the tide-flats. 

 MEAStrEE. — A round tin receptacle for meats, holding five quarts, used in the opening-houses. (New Haven.) 

 Meat. — The fleshy, edible part of an oyster, or other mollusk. 

 Milk. — The spat before it is discharged from an oyster, and is said just before and during spawning to be " in the 



milk ". 

 Milky, or ^hlchy.— To be " in the milk ", i. e., ready to spawn. 



Mussel. — Mollusks of the family Mytilidce and genera Mytilus and Modiola. See below. 

 Natueals. — Oysters of natural growth ; wild, not planted. (New Jersey.) 

 Net-fish. — A species of orjihiuran or serpent skin, AstrojjJiyton, Agassizii. See Baslcet-fish. 

 Nib. — The tender, gTowing, posterior end. (Prince's bay.) 

 Nippees. — Tongs having at the end not a rake-head with many teeth, but only one tooth, or a very few teeth, so as to 



act as pincers ; used in picking up solitary oysters, which can be seen and aimed at. (Chesapeake.) 

 Old Maid. — The soft-clam, Mya arenaria. (South of England.) 

 Open. — To remove the meat from the shell of a mollusk. See Cttt out. 

 Openee. — One who opens oysters for trade. See Slielccr ; Side-opener. 

 Opening-house. — A place where oysters are opened. 

 Oyster. — A mollusk of the family 0.s<rei</fl? and genus Ostrea ; also, .some allied forms distiugni.shed as " pearl " 



oysters, etc. They are scattered over the whole world, and through the geological record since Jurassic time. 



In the United States only one species, Ostrea rirgiuiana, is now recogni/.ed as edible; but this appears in 



market under a long and diverse set of names, derived from the district or bed where the particular variety 



grew. See iiarticularly the chaiiter on tlie natmal history of the oyster, infra. 



