Hi folks!  Hendrik Broekman wrote (of abalone):

> The lad may have been from the left coast where, I am told,  
>they consume such things.
>
I lived in Guernsey for 5 years back in the 60s, where abalone are 
called ormers (from oreilles de mer, seeing that they spoke Norman 
French till recently)  and I can tell you they are 
_absolutely_delicious_!  After all these years I still salivate at 
the thought of them!

Alas, friends living there tell me that they have so declined in the 
last few years, acquiring them is now very strictly controlled.  A 
great shame indeed, but I can well understand it seeing how I used to 
pig-out on them when I lived there!

(Obligatory harpsichord content: I think the shells would make 
beautiful keytops)

Best!

Peter Redstone
http://www.ctg.net/redstone