• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.90-100
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• 1975

The estimation of the pre-processing condition of oyster is of great importance for distributors and processors. This study was attempted to establish the basic data for evaluating the processing suitability of oyster, which is the most important shellfish for domestic use and export. The data were analysed by measuring the condition index, chemical composition and heavy metal content of oysters. In order to eliminate the manual work that has to be done on a tightly closed oyster shell and avoid shrinkage in the oyster meat which is attendant on the steaming process, chemical means to open oyster were examined. finding the method of pretreatment of polyphosphate for frozen oysters were attempted to improve the product quality. The prevention of undesirable color change of the canned oyster meat is another problem to solve. The important results are as follows : 1. The ratio of meat volume and meat weight to the holding capacity by shells may be useful as an index to measure the condition index of oysters. 2. As a whole, monthly changes of moisture and fat content in oysters were reversely correlated. Protein content slightly decreased from April and rapidly decreased in July, and again rapidly increased in August but from September to November decreased slightly. In April, the content of glycogen was 4 percent. From this period to September, glycogen was rapidly decreased. From July to September, it was only 0. 7 to 1 percent but increased from October. There were little seasonal changes in pH value. The pH value of oyster meat was 6.0 to 6.2. The crude ash content was slightly decreased from June to August. 3. The range of monthly change of heavy metal content are as follows: Total mercury was 0 to 0.019 ppm, cadmium was 0.026 to 0.053 ppm, copper was 0.111 to 0.594 ppm, and lead_was 0.061 to 0.581 ppm. 4. By the results of condition index, chemical composition and heavy metal content of oysters, the suitable harvest season as raw materials for processing was the end of December to the end of May of next year. 5. The pretreatment of 10 percent polyphosphate in 5 percent salt solution of oyster meat appeared effective to reduce thawing drip during cold storage. 6. The pretreatment of $Na_2EDTA$ and BHA did not show the color prevention effect to the canned oyster meat during storage. 7. Magnesium chloride affected to open the valves of oysters.