248 THE FISHEEIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



ScuLLEE. — In sponging, the man who manages the small boat, while the hooker (q. v.) works. (Florida reefs.) 



Sea-cap. — A basket-shaped sponge, often of great size. (Florida reefs.) 



Seconds. — Oysters of second market grade ; cnllens. (Northern cities.) 



Seed. — Infant or young oysters suitable or intended for transplanted growth in artificial beds. See Set and Plant. 



Seekonks. — Oysters (mainly seed) growing in Seekonk river, Rhode Island. 



Selects. — Oysters of the first quality, i. e., selected; applied wholly to opened stock. 



Set. — I. A young oyster. Occasionally "Set" is used imi>roperly for spaicn. See Spat. 



Set. — II. The appearance of young oysters iu a district, as a whole, thus: "The Set is good in Somerset this 



year"; «■. e., there is an abundance of infant oysters. See Seed. 

 Shanghai. — A long, slender oyster. See Coon-heel. 



Shake (verb). — To divide the proceeds of a sijonging-cruise. "We will share $40 this trip," they say. 

 Shaee (noun). — The amount of money resulting to each of the crew of a sxjouging- vessel from the proceeds of a trip. 

 Sharpers. — Elongated, protruding, sharp-ended oysters, dangerous to the feet in moving about the reefs. (Gulf 



coast.) 

 Sheepwool. — The highest grade of Florida commercial sponges, Spongia gossypina. 

 Shellers. — Persons who open clams for market. (New Jersey.) 

 Shelling. — The spreading of shells upon the bottom to catch spawn. 

 Shift to. — To move half-grown oysters to a new bed for their improvement. 

 Shock. — ^To open or "shuck" clams or oysters. (New England.) 

 Shoots. — The spaces between the concentric ridges on an oyster-shell, marking each season's growth. (New 



Jersey.) 

 Shuck. — I. To open oysters. (Baltimore and southward.) 

 Shuck. — II. An oyster-shell. (South.) 

 Shucker. — One who opens oysters. (South.) 



Shucking-stand. — A rude table, with boxed sides, etc., at which oysters are opened. (South.) 

 Side-opener. — An oyster-opener, who rests the oyster in the palm of his left hand aloue, while he parts the shell. 



(Quicker and more laborious than the sticlcer's method; it is followed at Providence, Ehode Island.) 

 Silver-shell. — Anomia. See Gold-shells. 



Sight (verb). — To be able to see oysters on the bottom and direct the tongs to them. (Virginia.) 

 Skipf. — The peculiar, special oyster-boat used at Ke^port, New Jersey. It is shaped like a small, shallow yawl. 

 Skift. — Vernacular for slciff. 

 Skimmer. — Flat, shallow pans of tin or zinc, with perforated bottom, in which the openers empty their measures 



of oysters, and where the liquor is allowed to drain away. 

 Skimpier. — The Cyprma islandica, or big beach clam. (South shore of Long Island.) 

 Single Oysters. — In the south " single oyster " means an edible oyster in contradistinction from the raccoon 



oyster. 

 Slipper-limpet. — MoUusks of the genus Crepidula (three species). Also known as DecMead, Boat, and q. v. 

 Snail-bore. — Mollusks of the genus Urosalpinx, etc. (New Jersey.) See Drill, Borer, etc. 

 Snaps. — The most inferior oysters sent to market. (Maryland.) 

 Soft Oyster. — The "Virginia plant", or southern oyster (Staten Island sound), as distinguished from the "hard" 



native oyster. 

 Somersets. — Oysters from Taunton river, Massachusetts, after the name of the chief village, 7 miles north of Fall 



Elver. 

 Somerset Tongs. — Oyster-tongs, working on a patented swivel-joint of brass, used at Somerset, Massachusetts. 

 Sounds. — Oysters grown in Staten Island sound. New York ; especially an European brand. 

 Spat. — Spawn. This word, however, is generally used to signify the " set" or minute infant oysters, after they have 



become attached to some support. See Spaton. 

 Spat. — To emit eggs or spawn. 

 Spawn.— The eggs of the oyster (or any other sea-animal) in their floating condition; but sometimes the "set" or 



infant oysters are erroneously called spawn. See Spat, Mill:, Set. 

 Spawned. — Improper pronunciation of spaicn, frequent iu some districts. 

 Sponge, or To go Sponging. — To go on a cruise for gathering s^jonges. (Florida reefs.) 

 Sponger. — A man who gathers si^onges. (Florida reefs.) 

 Sponge-bar. — A rocky spot whexe sponges grow. (Florida.) 

 Sponge-hook. — The bent, two-pronged iron tool at the end of a pole, with which sponges are gathered from the 



bottom. (Florida reefs.) 

 Sponge-pole. — The pole by which the hook is operated in gathering sponges. (Florida reefs.) 

 Squid. — Naked mollusks of the order Cephalopoda ; they are used as food and as bait. 



