I have been trying to sort this one out too.The common  bay mussels to be
found in B.C. are M. trossulus. However, life will be more difficult in
time, as exotics hybridize with the local natural mussels, M. trossulus.
Currently, shellfish aquaculture projects in B.C. prefer the faster growing
species and are growing M. edulis (imported from the east coast, quarantined
and seed taken) and M. galloprovincialis (I believe the seed was imported
from Washington, following transplant protocols of disease screening).
The gallo mussels are much larger  (longer and wider) with a pointed
anterior end.

The same is happening with oysters... exotics are spawning on aquaculture
leases and the spat settle off the tenures. European flat oysters, Ostrea
edulus have been found on public beaches in Barkley Sound and in the Strait
of Georgia at Lasqueti and Cortes islands.

cheers
Rick Harbo
Nanaimo, B.C.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ross Mayhew" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2002 9:19 AM
Subject: Re: Mytilus trossulus & enzymes


> I think i didn't make myelf clear the first time.  They are definitely
> recognized as being different species, and it IS possible to tell them
> apart conchologically more than half of the time.  The enzymatic test
> was merely the most reliable method of telling one from the other - not
> the reason that they were declared to be different spp in the first place.
>
> Cheers,
> Ross.
>