FOOD FROM THE CRUSTACEANS AND MOLLUSCA. 409 



ance and consistence of leather. The estimation in 

 which such pabulum is held by the disciples of Con- 

 fucius, I regard as being solely due to a taste acquired 

 by long cultivation. This opinion is founded upon the 

 fact of having partaken of one of these mollusks after its 

 having been cooked according to true Celestial fashion. 



The economical value of the Saliotis tuberculata and 

 its foreign congeners is very great. They are collected 

 by the fishermen, who go out in boats at spring tides, 

 and after collecting them from the rocks take their haul 

 to market. Before, however, being fit for food, they 

 have to bo repeatedly washed in water ; that which has 

 been used for this purpose being almost as black as ink 

 when thrown away. After this washing they are beaten 

 with wooden mallets for some time, and are then ready 

 for cooking. When cooked (usually fried) they are ex- 

 cellent food, eating somewhat like veal cutlets ; they are 

 also like veal in another respect, namely, their solidity. 

 Three of them form a very good meal. 



The species of haliotids eaten as food on the Cali- 

 fornian coast are S. corrugata, H. rufescens, called abalone, 

 ff. cracherodii, the white abalone ; H. spkndens and H. 

 Kamsdiatkiana in Alaska. 



The various places whence this article are brought to 

 Hakodati, Japan, for shipment are — the west coast of 

 Yesso, Shendai, Tsugani, and Nambu. The fishing season 

 cpmniences in March, and after being dried, this com- 

 modity is brought to Hakodati until November, after 

 which there is a great scarcity. The prices paid in 1864 

 varied from 17 to 18 dollars the picul (133 lbs.), but in 

 1865 rose to 22 dollars, owing to the high prices the ex- 

 ports were smaller. 



Hokadikaimi, a species of oyster, comes from Nambu, 

 and varies in price from 8 to 10 dollars the picul. 

 From Japan there was exhibited at the Paris Exhibi- 

 tion in 1878, oysters preserved in shotsion, a kind of 

 spirit made from rice. 



Irico (dried shrimps), also an article of food for the 

 Chinese, is brought from the west coast of the island of 



