Monster Oyster Shells.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1667, 25 March 1886, Page 2

Mon ster Oyster Shells.

Mr George—Drevar, of Cooktown, writes to the Queenslander that the *I>oruii3a pnlher lasirhomewardjtrm-took nWel interesting lcatg|> j^rom that port. "It was no less than a schooner load of monster, prater shells, 370 pairs, their destiny" the L Colonial and Indian Exhibition. They are to make a igrotto which no doubtrwill be as large as a good-sizedjhouse,; and Queensland will not only beat'Atn^rica,- but^alr thetworld ihlpne^fe'gj^e^tf^ner oysters.- I^ynd on board the ,oqrunda as 'each pair^of tht shells, which were slung m a ( stout clrain, were lifted on board by the steam winch, and a pretty good* tug the winch had" with someof them, ifor they weighed froni/30Qtb to 7,QQIb each pair, without their contents.. .There oife of .those monster oysters 1 at the Fisheries' "Exhibition:- ' It wa« iria'clais cat, and -weighed nearly 4001 b,,. It was |aid its contests would be ample fooa for 20 men at a meal, and attracted great attention* People said thtjy. would never again doubt the existence of the sea serpent, for)-if they had.not seen that oyster all the tai^'in the wprldtwauld not make them beUve it. Scient||c men (and they ought to know) claw these mon* sters as oysters; they are called dam *,hells here ; but they, are as, like a cookie 1h J shape; materialj and pplM^Utsidt and ifl.jas^Qe pea is like another, lam told, by the men Vho orOugqi them here .that there'is -one; oyster 7,f eetpjde and fully ha.Ua ton weight "on V reef -a few nliles J 6ff this i port,.; but .thtfyjcoji^ not manage to] get it ( pn, board; and tnat one weighing. a. ton is off thV '^ew Guinea