
0. 236 NEW YORK SHELL CLUB _ NOTES 
Pp 6 November 1977 N 
famous meeting of the American Malacological Union in 
ere A teed when Don davies was President of the group. People 
who were there told me that the then Cuban President dispatched a 
Cuban naval vessel to Key West to transport the members and guests 
gratis to Havana. In other ways also it was a splendid meeting nev- 
er to be forgotten by those who were lucky enough to have attended, 
All in all this is an effective and touching commemoration of 72 
great man assembled with diligence and displayed with great taste 
and skill by one who remembers her association with him with joy 
and affection. 
x % % 
(The following paragraphs are extracted from an article in a ‘iami 
newspaper, "Diario las Americas," as reprinted in South Florida 
Shell Club's "The Mollusk" Vol. 15 No. 4, April 1977.) 
Mrs. Masnata was born in Cuba 82 years ago, and prior to developing 
an interest in shells made a living breeding tropical fish, along 
with her father and two sisters. In Havana, around 1920, they es- 
tablished Cuba's first aquarium. In 1937 they moved to Miami, and 
the next year the "Masnata Sisters Aquarium" was inaugurated. I 
might add, from personal experience, that this establishment, dur- 
ing its many years of existence, was one of the finest and most 
reputable of its kind in the city of Miami. 
Her interest in malacology dates back to 1920, when a friend of her 
father Emilio, Dr. de la Torre, visited their establishment in Ha- 
vana to admire their collection of tropical fish, which interested 
him greatly, since he was an avid naturalist. The Masnata's inter- 
est, in turn was aroused by his extensive collection of Cuban mol- 
lusks. While running the aquarium here in Miami, Mrs. Masnata 
corresponded with, and often received specimens from Dr. de la 
Torre himself. 
Mrs. Masnata told me that she had not expected to win anything with 
her exhibit (which won first place in the potpourri division), but 
had done it solely as a tribute to Dr. de la Torre who was her 
teacher and personal friend. 
SOUTH FLORIDA SHELL SHOW, 1978 
We have the following information from South Florida's Shell Show 
Chairman: 
The South Florida Shell Show, 1978 Edition, is just around the cor- 
ner. This will be our Sixteenth Show, and will be held at Planet 
Ocean, 3979 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida. Dates for the 
Show are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, January 27th, 28th, 29th. 
We invite all of you to take part in what we feel will be one of 
the finest shell shows ever held in South Florida. A fine group of 
judges have been selected, and competition will be interesting. 
The 1978 Shell Show Committee looks forward to receiving your en- 
abit For entry forms, information on rules and classifications 
or the various categories, you may write to Shell Show Chairman 
Mr. Ben Culverhouse, 10620 S.W. 93rd St ‘eae 
(Telephone: Area code 305% 374-9814) pea vacteent pat age tde..g2 11°: 
