THE CONCHOLOGICAL MAGAZINE 



Vol. i. December, 1907. No. 12. 



Talks on Shells (IV) Pectonyessoensis,Jay. 



This species is chiefly collected from the sea of Hokkaido and 

 Aomori Bay. Wrongly thinking that it sails with its one valve 

 standing straight like a sail of a vessel, people call it " Hotategai" 

 in Japanese, which means "a shell in full sail." It ranges six to 

 ten fathoms and changes its habit opening and then shutting its 

 valves suddenly, and pushing out water. Therefore, they do not 

 live in one place and we cannot expect to see them in the same 

 place yearly. 



A few years ago, Dr. Kishigami examined the habit of this 

 species very carefully and the fact above mentioned came to light. 

 The shell fish of this kind, especially the adductor, is said to be 

 very delicious to the palate. There is a way of cooking which is 

 interesting to relate. A live shell of this kind is put on the fire 

 and when it is dead, opening its valves, soy is poured on and then 

 people eat the roasted delicacy on the dish of the same valve, — 

 that was its very armour before. The dried adductor loses its 

 proper taste, while the canned one keeps a little of its natural 

 flavour. We have never heard of its being transported to 

 Tokyo, fearing putrefaction on the way. After the Restoration in 

 1868, owing to the rapid increase of the population in Hokkaido, 

 the demand for these shell fish increased and people almost wasted 

 its kind in these localities, until the Department of Agriculture 

 and Commerce forbade the young shells under three years to be 

 taken up. Its shells, beside, are used for small pans. We have 

 heard that in Aomori Prefecture each house is furnished with one 

 or two pans of these shells. 



Appendix— On Japanese Marine Mollusca 



In the course of our study, several species are found afterwards, 

 which ought not to be overlooked. In this present number, 

 therefore, the descriptions of more than ten of the following 

 species are added. 



