Another stupid question--what does "slopping" mean?
 
Carol
-----Original Message-----
From: William M. Frank <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Monday, April 19, 1999 6:51 PM
Subject: Re: Conch pistil
 
 
>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