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OYSTERS
Mason County is home to the Oyster. They grow rapidly when
transplanted to Puget Sound Inland Waterways, but only reproduce in
the warmer waters of the Great Hood Canal. Farmed commercially by
Taylor United and other growers, they are also available on most
public park beaches on Hood Canal for the public to pick up and use.
Eat raw, bake, or fry to your liking. Please return the shells to the
beach where you found them...the "spatted shells" are home to the new
generation of tasty morsels, as the "babies" ride the shells of the
adults. This assures a continuous supply.
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SEA CUCUMBER
This edible looks like it's name...a big cucumber. When startled or
in a defensive posture, this incredible edible literally turns itself
inside out! The strips of orange-red muscles inside the Sea Cucumber
can be removed and cooked..(baked, or fried) or eaten raw in sushi.
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LIMPETS
The Limpet, or "Chinaman Cap" live in tidal pools of saltwater,
clinging to rocks or anchored to driftwood. Remove them by prying them
off with an oyster knife. Bake them or steam them in the shell like
you would a clam...serve them with melted garlic butter. (Better than
Escargot). Very sweet mild meat.
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MUSSELS
A favorite in England, the Blue Bearded Mussel can be found almost
anywhere on the Inland waters of Puget Sound...as well as the Great
Hood Canal. Gather them on almost any beach. They cling to driftwood,
old boat hulls, pilings, and are most abundant along the shoreline
where freshwater creeks enter the saltwater. The Mussel can be cooked
like any clam. They are much sweeter than clams and very rich. Serve
them baked, steamed, fried or in stews & soups. DELICIOUS! (Especially
good when steamed with white wine and Thyme, and served with garlic
butter.)
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MANILA CLAM
The Manila Clam is one of the best of the "Steamers"....Dug with
shovels at low tide on most all Washington beaches along the Inland
Waterways. Locate them by small vent holes in the sand or tidal
mud...dig down from one to three feet. Clean them by soaking overnight
in saltwater and cornmeal to have them spit out the sand and impure
stuff. Then steam, bake, grind for chowder. The "Little-neck" clam and
Butter Clam are also found on most of our beaches.
BUTTER CLAM
The Butter Clam is easily identified by the deep ridges and ruffles
on the edges of the shells. They have a mottled creamy pink-brown
shell. The adult Butter clams are much bigger than the Manila and
Little Neck "steamers", which are small, gray, or whitish gray in
color with concentric rings and little or no "ridges". The Butter clam
is found on many inland water beaches, as are the Manila and Little
Neck clam.
* Steam, Bake, Grind for chowder, use in Gumbo or devil and bake in
the half shell.
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GEODUCK
(pronounced: "Goo-ey-duck"
The Giant Geoduck Clam is found on several Puget Sound beaches.
They are usually dug with a Geoduck "GUN" which creates a vacuum to
help hold the clam suspended in the sand until it can be dug out. They
are sliced and pounded to tenderize. Rolled in crumbs and pan fried or
baked. You can grind up the meat to use in chowder or stews, or grind
and devil them and bake them in their half shells. To remove the tough
outer skins, blanche in boiling water for a few seconds. (Don't let
any of the 'locals' fool you into thinking you can "hear" a geoduck
"QUACK" ;-)
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CRABS: Red, Dungeness & Puget So. King
fig. 1. 
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
1.)The Red Crab is sometimes
referred to as the "Rock Crab"and are usually under one pound in
weight. It can be found along most of Puget Sounds Inland waterways.
Much smaller than the Dungeness (1-3 lbs. in weight) or
Puget Sound King Crab
(2-5 lbs.) which are deep water crabs, the Red Rock Crab is found in
the shallows, some people "jig" for them from docks or piers with a
piece of Bacon Rind tied on the end of strong fishing line. You can
also set out crab "traps" using a can of cat food or dog food with
holes punched in the top as bait. Rock crabs have a hard, dark-red
shell, are small crabs, similar in size to the "Blue", soft-shell
crabs in the Southern Pacific. Some do get bigger, and are prized for
their extra "sweet meat"which is a pale cream color.
2.& 3.)Dungeness and Puget Sound King crabs
are caught in crab traps on the
sea floor. The Dungeness is the crab preferred in crab salads or crab
cocktails, a light-sweet white meat, with lots of flavor. The Puget
Sound King sports huge "spikes" on their shells, have large fat legs
and body with Snow-White meat that is very mild in flavor.
- To prepare crabs, boil in salted water for 8-10 min. per lb.,
e.g. 20 min for a two lb. crab. Prepare all types of crabs by
boiling or steaming.
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SCALLOPS
The Pink Scallop or "singing Scallops" live in 30 to 180 feet
depths on hard sea floors in areas of swift currents, feeding on the
passing banquet. They can attach themselves to rocks with a thin
thread-like anchor, or swim freely by quickly opening and closing
their shells, which makes them look as if they are dancing in the sea.
Divers harvest them one at a time from the sea floor, placing them in
bags. Cook scallops by steaming like any clam, or in chowder or gumbo.
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SHRIMP
The Hood Canal Shrimp is a favorite in the Northwest.
They are found in deeper waters and caught in baited shrimp pots. Boil
or steam for 5-7 minutes. Wonderful!
Link below to Taylor United, Shellfish Growers to order over the
internet...or just to learn more about the bivalves that they offer
for sale. This is a DON'T MISS...
TAYLOR UNITED, SHELLFISH SALES
Go to Taylor United to see all about how shellfish
is harvested, handled and prepared for the consumer. You can order
fresh shellfish from this page, and learn more about the different
varieties of Oysters and Clams.
Attend the
"OYSTERFEST"
HELD IN SHELTON EVERY OCTOBER.
See Mason County
Chamber Events calendar for dates. People come from all over the
country to compete in the Oyster Shucking competition and share
seafood delicacies and recipes. The beer garden features Micro-Brews
from around the country and live music all day long.
MASON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS OFF HWY 101 NORTH IN
SHELTON |
Back To Area Information
Pacific Northwest
Properties
1800 Olympic Hwy South, Suite#1 / P.O. Box 1845 Shelton WA
98584
Office : 360-427-5733
Fax: 360-427-2365
Page us for a quick return call: (360)-490-0424
Mail To:
sharon@free2b.com
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