West Coast Mussels

[barolo]

The mussels most commonly grown out here are the Mytulis galloprovincial and in a very small part, the eastern variety Mytulis edulis.

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Thanks Oyster Guy.

Do you know if the BC Honey Oysters now on menus all over Vancouver are Mytilus e., Mytilus g. or something else altogether?

Edited March 14, 2005 by barolo (log)

[Oyster Guy]

The mussels most commonly grown out here are the Mytulis galloprovincial and in a very small part, the eastern variety Mytulis edulis.

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Thanks Oyster Guy.

Do you know if the BC Honey Oysters now on menus all over Vancouver are Mytilus e., Mytilus g. or something else altogether?

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The Honey Mussels are all Mytulis Galloprovincial (Meds). Mytulis edulis tends to be smaller, has a lower meat to shell ratio and has a blue-ish sheen to the shell more than the Med does.

[stovetop]

When I was at the Whales tale ten years ago, some of my staff where squatting (camping) on one of the most beautiful beaches on the coast, not long beach, a little like Tonquin park beach in Tofuno, it was just outside of Uke, the road going to Albion, used to be a trail head near there, it was like 20 min hard hike to the beach, days off we would gather around there and eat lots of stuff from the ocean, we ate mussels many times and I am still here. They were a lot stronger than and not as sweet as east coast mussels. Oysters can be both a tidal and sub tidal species it is highly possible that mussels can fall under that category.

Mussels need water to live so if they are not in sub tidal areas they will die. You would want to pay attention to tide charts and pick when the tides are just changing and yes bi valves in the summer are not the best time to eat

Now finally we have a commercial mussel producer here on the coast, but I do not think they are in the retail market as of yet, it is still very limited in the commercial market. Washington state and Oregon have been doing commercial mussel production for a while; it is good to see BC getting its shit together. Our GOV has too much red tape.

I say free enterprise sell off the gov and let every man women and child defend for them selves. (Just kidding)

Although; I think there must be middle ground we can meet.

steve

[annanstee]

I have fantastic memories of summers in a cottage right on the water at Bamfield. We used to pick our way amongst the rocks at lowtide and stick our fingers in the anenomes. And we definitely used to pick mussels and eat them.

I always thought that the presence of Red Tide precluded doing this now. I'd be thrilled to know I had the go ahead to go harvesting again.

My son is four and he would be thrilled to pick his own mussels.

[barolo]

I always thought that the presence of Red Tide precluded doing this now. I'd be thrilled to know I had the go ahead to go harvesting again.

My son is four and he would be thrilled to pick his own mussels.

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The link provided by Rhea_S above gives you the information on picking limits and a link to closure information, although it is probably easier just to call the DFO office and ask about closures.

[annanstee]

I always thought that the presence of Red Tide precluded doing this now. I'd be thrilled to know I had the go ahead to go harvesting again.

My son is four and he would be thrilled to pick his own mussels.

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The link provided by Rhea_S above gives you the information on picking limits and a link to closure information, although it is probably easier just to call the DFO office and ask about closures.

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Thanks Anne (and Rhea_S)!

Edited March 16, 2005 by annanstee (log)

[paul mitchell]

As a kid we would pick mussels off the beach in Nanaimo for a snack to go with the stolen 6-pack of Dad's beer - I've been picking them off the beach for years - funny that Stovetop mentions Tonquin Beach - I was down there this morning and it's always fun to pick one or two of the big ones off the rocks and feed them to the seagulls.

[stovetop]

Paul I love Tonquin beach, it is a west coast gem, hidden away in Tofino, everyone goes to long beach, misses the opportunity to explore a very unique and beautiful part of the west coast.

Ps; never miss the opportunity to try Oyster Jim oysters, the best in my opinion, when others are trying to keep red tide at bay, Jims oysters are clean and still available, he is one of the unique west coast characters, he can be found just outside of Ucluelet, his claim is in Claouquot sound.

steve

[merlin]

Steve:

you must have missed Chris' update on Tofino...apparently Oyster Jim has shut down with little info as to why...too bad

[Viola da gamba]

When I was at the Whales tale ten years ago, some of my staff where squatting (camping) on one of the most beautiful beaches on the coast, not long beach, a little like Tonquin park beach in Tofuno, it was just outside of Uke, the road going to Albion, used to be a  trail head near there, it was like 20 min hard hike to the beach,

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I remember that beach - most amazing palm kelp if you went to the left. Last time we were in Ucluelet, the stairs down were still iffy, and there were both bears and wolves in the area - have the stairs been replaced or the wildlife moved on?

With both clams & mussels, we always used to go to pick clams from and around the clam beds off Shack Islands in Nanaimo (this is before they were stripped in the early 90's - I think they've probably rejuvenated by now, but I wouldn't want to bet on it) - we never got sick, but then we only ever went in late February - mid-March, at low tide, and only took the clams from the gravel, not the sand. THe mussels we'd only take from the lowest possible point on the rocks - which tended to restrict things. We were also careful because, apparently, once you pick a mussel that's pretty well game over, as they can't reattach themselves to rocks - so we tended to be more into the clams.

[stovetop]

I remember that beach - most amazing palm kelp if you went to the left. Last time we were in Ucluelet, the stairs down were still iffy, and there were both bears and wolves in the area - have the stairs been replaced or the wildlife moved on?

Different spot

The spot I am talking about is by the cement factory, across the road you have Albion turn off, opposite side, the same side of the cement factory, going to tofino, you have some residences, you have to go through the houses, a old trail head starts there, there is no stairs or any kind of constructed path, just oh natural.

We are talking about serious path here.

Half moon bay and the first white settlement on the coast is about 2 hours from the beach, it takes about eight hours to hike to long beach and I am talking about the most difficult ocean front rock climbing and you can only go on a long low tide, there are many 9 foot jumps across life threatening crags. It was an old native community many moons ago. It is also one of the best fishing spots for commercial and sports fishing out of the bay.

A good stream and yes lots of bears and animals about, it is a great place to squat.

steve

[Viola da gamba]

Different spot

The spot I am talking about is by the cement factory, across the road you have Albion turn off, opposite side, the same side of the cement factory, going to tofino, you have some residences, you have to go through the houses, a old trail head starts there, there is no stairs or any kind of constructed path, just oh natural.

We are talking about serious path here.

Half moon bay and the first white settlement on the coast is about 2 hours from the beach, it takes about eight hours to hike to long beach and I am talking about the most difficult ocean front rock climbing and you can only go on a long low tide, there are many 9 foot jumps across life threatening crags. It was an old native community many moons ago.  It is also one of the best fishing spots for commercial and sports fishing out of the bay.

A good stream and yes lots of bears and animals about, it is a great place to squat.

steve

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Okay - now I think I know the one you mean - the cement factory reference helped I agree - very beautiful & great fishing - sadly inaccessible for family trips since my dad's knee replacement.

[stovetop]

The trail head I think you mentioned was down the street from the Whales tale, the perpendicular road across from the hotel. I was there last summer and they moved the trail down the street, I like the old trail better, it was a wooden walk way through the forest, way cooler. where it is now also existed ten years ago but did not have the big parking lot, a lot less commercialism( development)

steve

[Viola da gamba]

yup - that's it. Shame they moved the old trail - the walkway through the bush was great - and it was fun going each year and seeing how much more the old bits of corduroy trail had decomposed, how much more "organic" the bits of old housing had become, etc. Still miss it though - it's been a couple of years since I've been back to the Coast - Nanaimo, while home, just ain't the same

[paul mitchell]

Oyster Jim wrote an interesting letter to the editor of the Westerly News (Tofino / Ukie paper) a few weeks ago. Had something to do with him shutting down to focus on women's rights and a revolutionary form of exercise? We will miss his infamous roasting oysters!

[merlin]

No kidding Paul? Sounds like the making of an old SCTV sketch.....adding to the "colour" or is that "color" of the area..Oyster Jim is/was an American wasn't he?

We hope to be in Tofino in late June for a short stay and back again for 10 days after Thanksgiving...perhaps this year the resort will be open for a lunch time meal and lots of Nota Bene...if not perhaps we can coordinate a meal with Chris and Shari-Lynn at the Wick or our rental.....lots of wine on hand...awaiting deliveries of the Burrowing Owl Syrah and Meritage and Blue Mountain Stripe Label Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir....these spring releases just clobber the bank account [smile]