Original: Second in popularity only to the escargot for edible snails , the '' meat '' of the conch is used as food , either eaten raw , as in salads , or cooked , as in fritters , chowders , gumbos , and burgers .
Simplified: They lay eggs in long , gelatinous strands . The animal inside the shell is eaten , either raw , as in salads , or cooked , as in fritters , chowders , gumbos , and burgers .