In the late 1800's, there were recordings in North America of ten fossilized families of oysters. Of those however, only two remain in a fishable state: the Eastern or Atlantic Crassostrea Virginica and the Ostrea (Lurida) Conchaphila or Olympia Oyster on the west cost. North American waters now grow six families including the above mentioned. The other four are imports: the Ostrea Edulis (European Flat), the Crassostrea Gigas (western Pacific), the Crassostrea Sikamea Kumamoto (western Pacific) , and the Suminoe platter Oyster the Crassosteraariakensis (northern Pacific), primarily grown out for shucked meat export to Asian markets.

In North America, we are fortunate that each of the "grow out " bays and waters impart such distinctive character to the shape, size and taste of their product that there are literally 100's if not 1000's of varieties that we can enjoy.

Images reprinted from "Heaven on the Half Shell", Sea Grant Washington and West Winds Press
Photographer Craid Harrold

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