EAST COAST MARINE SHELLS 



S 



ruthlessly collected. The time has passed 

 when the taking of additional specimens can 

 make even the slightest contribution to 

 science. Buying specimens from Indians is 

 as bad as taking them from the trees. 

 Thoughtless souvenir hunters are complet- 

 ing their destruction. 



A real scientist should also real- 

 ize that many of the marine shells are not 

 quickly produced and often only in small 

 numbers. Entire colonies should not be 

 cleaned out. The excuse that "someone else 

 will take them if I don't" is about as 

 cheap and poor a subterfuge as there is. 

 These remarks apply to living shells, not 

 dead ones. 



Sanibel Island is an excellent cen- 

 ter for collecting marine shells in Flori- 

 da. It is situated off the lower west 

 coast, in the Gulf of Mexico and near Fort 

 Myers. Here, probably, is the richest spot 

 in the country for marine shells and is in- 

 deed a veritable happy hunting ground. 

 Years ago, according to the late Dr. Simp- 

 son, It would have been possible to fill a 

 train of freight cars with shells from the 

 beaches of Sanibel. Today not so many in- 

 dividual shells are obtainable but a suf- 

 ficient number to attract and gladden visi- 

 tors to the Island. Even now the beach is 

 often strewn with countless Pinna shells. 



In order to secure a goodly number 

 of the hundreds of species known to occur 

 at Sanibel it is necessary to learn some- 

 thing about their habits, particularly if 

 they are to be taken alive. Dead specimens 

 are preferable to none, especially if fresh, 

 but only should be retained until living 

 ones are obtained. Where are these living 

 forms? Many are in plain sight including 

 some of the largest ones. The majority, 

 however, are hidden away in all sorts of 

 places and must be sought for at the lowest 

 tides. 



As the automobile in which the col- 

 lector may ride rolls along the beach in- 

 numerable specimens are crushed beneath the 

 wheels. If time permits it is best to hike 

 down the beach to the lighthouse. There it 

 is easy to observe and obtain two little 

 shells which make tracks in the sand and 

 live in close proximity to each other, 

 Terebra and Olivella. In the tidal pools 

 are scallops (Pecten) of several species, 

 the giant Fasciolaria, countless numbers of 

 the paper fig shell (Ficus), left-handed 

 Busycon, giant cockles (Cardium) , and 



glistening clams (Doslnia) . Together with 

 these, especially in the direction of Cap- 

 tiva Island, are hosts of the various rock 

 shells (Murex) and quantities of little 

 forms clinging upon the backs of Pinnas, 

 corals, and elsewhere. One could remain 

 here indefinitely, constantly adding new 

 species to his list and enjoying varied ex- 

 periences. 



Upon the mud flats inside Sanibel 

 and Captiva Islands, on the bay side, live 

 many species which are totally different. 

 In some places a small black Cerithium oc- 

 curs literally in millions. They are so 

 close together that it is impossible to 

 step without treading upon them.- Here too, 

 quite abundant at times, is the gracefully 

 formed Melongena corona. It actually is 

 crowned with many spines which are better 

 seen after the mud is removed. At various 

 depths, in mud or sand, is an assemblage of 

 interesting shellfish, some of them borers 

 and including the marvelously beautiful 

 angel-wings (Barnea) for which Florida is 

 Justly famous. Tarpon Bay, with its muddy 

 bottom is a rich spot, especially for min- 

 ute forms which find protection in its 

 quiet waters. There occurs the tiny opal 

 Marginella, truly a gem of the first water 

 but only one of the Jewels which live their 

 allotted span immersed in ooze.' The bay 

 shores also teem with life and are easily 

 reached at low tide. 



The larger bay, in the direction of 

 the lighthouse, is also classic ground and 

 may readily be worked with a small dredge 

 and operated from a fishing boat. Outside 

 in the Gulf the many reefs and diversified 

 bottom afford a rich territory for anyone 

 with time and energy to explore. Almost 

 every haul with the dredge brings up a host 

 of beauties, both large and small, obtain- 

 able in comparatively shallow water. 



There are other rich fields upon 

 the west coast of Florida, Tampa Bay, Boca 

 Ceiga Bay, the Sarasota area, Marco, Naples, 

 to mention a few. Off Cape Romano the 

 author dredged in about six feet of water 

 with highly gratifying results. 



On the east coast of Florida, north 

 of the Keys, some of the Sanibel species 

 also occur but individuals are not nearly 

 so plentiful. From the Gulf Stream, how- 

 ever, come many unusual shells which rarely 

 or never are seen on the west coast of the 

 state. The violet shell (J-anthina) is a 

 good example. After winter storms it is 



