has now been identified - and my thanks to everyone who assisted. I've
now taken better pics and it's quite clear what it is now. A signal
crayfish.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1087352...KvnlKap1ZvGnQE

--
Old minds are like old horses;
you must exercise them if you wish to keep them in working order.
~John Quncy Adams

On Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:03:19 +0100, AriesVal
wrote:

has now been identified - and my thanks to everyone who assisted. I've
now taken better pics and it's quite clear what it is now. A signal
crayfish.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1087352...KvnlKap1ZvGnQE


Is there a national chart marking where they are? We live quite near
the rochdale canal (I can see it out of my window justabouts) and the
thought of them crawling into my garden makes me feel iccky.

I think they're edible - Hugh FW said so I think - but they look
pretty wierd.
--
http://www.voucherfreebies.co.uk

"mogga" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:03:19 +0100, AriesVal
wrote:

has now been identified - and my thanks to everyone who assisted. I've
now taken better pics and it's quite clear what it is now. A signal
crayfish.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1087352...KvnlKap1ZvGnQE


Is there a national chart marking where they are? We live quite near
the rochdale canal (I can see it out of my window justabouts) and the
thought of them crawling into my garden makes me feel iccky.

I think they're edible - Hugh FW said so I think - but they look
pretty wierd.
--
http://www.voucherfreebies.co.uk

Some information here from the EA:-

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk...th=9&year=2008

Bill

On Wed, 6 Jul 2011 17:26:22 +0100, "Bill Grey"
wrote:


"mogga" wrote in message
.. .
On Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:03:19 +0100, AriesVal
wrote:

has now been identified - and my thanks to everyone who assisted. I've
now taken better pics and it's quite clear what it is now. A signal
crayfish.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1087352...KvnlKap1ZvGnQE


Is there a national chart marking where they are? We live quite near
the rochdale canal (I can see it out of my window justabouts) and the
thought of them crawling into my garden makes me feel iccky.

I think they're edible - Hugh FW said so I think - but they look
pretty wierd.
--
http://www.voucherfreebies.co.uk

Some information here from the EA:-

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk...th=9&year=2008

Bill



Thanks! My OH says I'm being silly - LOL but when I find one in the
garden it'll be me who deals with it.


--
http://www.voucherfreebies.co.uk

On 06/07/2011 17:04, mogga wrote:
On Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:03:19 +0100, AriesVal
wrote:

has now been identified - and my thanks to everyone who assisted. I've
now taken better pics and it's quite clear what it is now. A signal
crayfish.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1087352...KvnlKap1ZvGnQE


Is there a national chart marking where they are? We live quite near
the rochdale canal (I can see it out of my window justabouts) and the
thought of them crawling into my garden makes me feel iccky.

someone will know I hope ?

I think they're edible - Hugh FW said so I think - but they look
pretty wierd.

It's put me right off crayfish


--
Old minds are like old horses;
you must exercise them if you wish to keep them in working order.
~John Quncy Adams

"AriesVal" wrote in message
o.uk...
--
Old minds are like old horses;

What's a 'mind'?

you must exercise them if you wish to keep them in working order.

The word 'exercise' gives me a heart attack!

Alan


~John Quncy Adams

Yes, they are very tasty. They look less weird once de-shelled, similar to prawns.

The mitten crabs undermining the banks of the Thames are also very edible, and highly prized by the Chinese.

Quite why we don't establish fisheries for these things, and over-fish them to rareness, is beyond me. But perhaps that is difficult to do without damaging by-catch.

I think they've at least thought of catching the american crayfish for food. They decided against encouraging it because of the very real danger that some people would also take the british crayfish (either deliberately or accidentally), so that you'd probably be making the situation worse.