imo - Given the Mandarin language: The Chinese translation would have been very 'loose' to start with. Then, translating it back into English ..it becomes even more vague :)
The story of Jason and the Argonauts was set around 1300 BC, and the first written reference to the story comes from around 800 BC. If the earliest example we have of actual sea silk is from 400 AD, 1200 years later... It sounds right at first glance, but I have serious doubts about the timing.
First time I've heard of anything like this, thankyou. I'd certainly be intrigued to know if any modern scientific materials analysis is being performed on this material. We've been investigating mammalian, insectoid, arachnid & plant derived fibres for centuries, but have only begun to reproduce their properties in the laboratory in the last couple of decades. If this "Golden Fleece" proves to be exceptionally strong & easily synthesised (likely from genetically engineered E-Coli bacteria, as we have been doing with Spider Silk), then it could prove to be a highly effect component of ropes, textiles & even as structural reinforcing fill for concrete (as with modified bamboo fibre).
Here's a paper from 2013 in Nature Communications that might be interesting to you. This scientist is looking at the material science behind these byssus threads for other potential applications i.e. better adhesives. It's a bit old so he might have some newer stuff on the topic too. www.nature.com/articles/ncomms3187
it says that all molluscs can produce Byssus but is really true?. i have been trying to find video of clams producing Byssus there is just absolutely no video of it producing Byssus. all i found is Mussels producing Byssus and no clams producing byssus. does clam really produce Byssus ????
