Posted by Eric Frasco on September 28, 2000 at 13:01:55:
In Reply to: scallop gathering... posted by kelphead on September 27, 2000 at 23:16:20:
Kelphead:
Many divers prefer to cut the meat out and leave the outer shell where it was attached to the rock, as this reduces by-kill of all the little critters that attach themselves to the outside of the shell.
But sometimes this is just not possible. If you have to take the whole shell, there are two cool ways to get the meat out without having to use a hammer on the closed scallop:
1) take a long thin cable tie or a straw from a broom and insert it in one of the two vents by the back hinge. Tickle the scallop's outer edges until it gets irritated. It will open up and shut down again fast (a response to try to flush out the irritant) - you can get the knife in then.
2) place the scallops in your ice chest on top of the ice. After an half hour or so, they get cold and naturally relax open. Easy to cut out the meat at thant time.
Be sure to clean the scallops before you leave the island so you can dump the empty shell back in shallow water so the critters on the outside stand a chance of living. Use good ettiquette and common sense and do not dump them around the swim step while divers are exiting the water.
I'll be glad to let you know when we are doing an advanced dive where we will be able to get some game, so you can come along and pick up some of the details.
-Eric-