That item you are referring to is well described in this passage from
"The Queen Conch" by Katherine S. Orr and Carl J. Berg, Jr.
 
quote
 
Although not part of the conch meat proper, this book would not
be complete with mention of the conch's "noodle".  The conch contains
an internal structure called the crystalline style, which aids in digestion.
This gelatinous, noodle-like cord, reaching four to six inches long in
adults,
is exposed during "slopping."  West Indian folklore claims that consumption
of the style increases a man's sexual vigor and throughout the region males
of our species swallow them down as the conchs are cleaned.  Like all
aphrodesiacs, including conch meat, results are hard to confirm, perhaps
it is telling that the ones who down the noodles most avidly are not the
older
men but the young hopefuls - eager to give anything a try.
 
unquote
 
Bill Frank
1865 Debutante Dr.
Jacksonville, Florida 32246
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----- Original Message -----
From: Peter V Wolfe <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, April 19, 1999 6:09 PM
Subject: Conch pistil
 
 
> I just got back from the Bahamas, where we went conching.
> During the process of separating the animals from their
> shells, our Bahamian guide pulled out a clear stringy
> thing he called the "pistil" [my spelling], which he
> dipped in sea water and ate.  He says it's a tradition,
> so of course I ate one too.  I'm trying to find out
> what part of the animal it was. I've searched a lot of
> 'net sites, and I can't find any detailed anatomy of
> conches.
>
> Also, can anyone recommend a good resource for identifying
> the species of conch I got?  I still have the shell, but I
> know that getting a genus and species is a long shot.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Peter