barnacle, oyster seed, “petite” or “cocktail” oysters, “select” oysters

With oyster knife in hand, Chris scrapes barnacles off an oyster.






Chris buys oyster seed — measuring 15 to 20 millimeters — from Aquacultural Research Corporation.


After obtaining his oyster seeds from A.R.C., Chris initially grows them in mesh bags, using the French rack-and-bag system. Later, the oysters are transferred into metal grow-out cages, where they sit on the bottom of the bay from one-and-a-half to two years — until they reach 2.5 to 3 inches, to be marketed as “petite” or “cocktail” oysters, or 3 inches or more to be marketed as “select” oysters. (He also digs for wild razor clams and quahogs.)
keelhaul
(KEEL-hawl)

verb tr.
1. To haul under the keel of a ship.
2. To rebuke sharply.

Etymology
From Dutch kielhalen, from kiel (keel) + halen (to haul). In the olden times this form of punishment was inflicted in the Dutch and British navies. The punished sailor was tied to a rope looped under the ship and thrown in the water. Then he was dragged along the bottom of the ship to the other side. The result was either severe injuries from brushing against the barnacles on the ship's bottom or death from drowning. Thankfully, in modern times keelhauling is performed only metaphorically


barnacle

音節bar • na • cle
発音bάːrnəkl
[名]
1《貝類》フジツボ目の海産甲殻類の総称（◇フジツボ・エボシガイ）
2しがみついて離れない人［もの］
3《鳥類》カオジロガン（barnacle goose）（◇北欧産）