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Brown fusus
The Queen Conch (pronounced "konk") is Strombus gigas, the large, pink trumpet-like shell that is fast vanishing from the
Keys because of its desirability to the 10-cent store and florist trade as a house or garden ornament.
With laughing, kidding approval, Papy's legislative colleagues gave assent to a bill which will provide a fine up to $500 or
a maximum of six months in jail for persons convicted of taking the Queen Conch from any salt, fresh or tidal water of the
state for any purpose "other than for use as food."
Sen. John Spottswood of Key West sponsored the senate companion bill.
The bill provides:
"Section 1. (1) It is unlawful to take from any salt, fresh or tidal waters of this state any Queen Conchs of the species
Strombus gigas for commercial purposes other than for use as food. It is the intent of the legislature that where Queen
Conchs… are taken for the purpose of using only the shell to sell commercially, the meat contained therein may not be
destroyed but must be used for food.
"(2) It is unlawful for any wholesale or retail fish dealer to have in his possession, to offer to purchase, offer to sell,
sell, barter or transport for sale any Queen Conchs… which he is prohibited from taking by this act."
Key Westers got really riled when commercial interests started harvesting the shells some of which bring up to $1.75 each and
discarding the gastropod which is one of the gastromical goodies and fixture in the eating habits of a Florida Conch's (Human
variety) life.
ANSWER TO "WHAT IS IT?"
The shell figured on page 2 is a Cypraea scurra in the bulla stage of development. What fooled some of us was the sturdy
outer lip and relatively high pointed spire, features not generally associated with bulla Cypraea. Most young cowries have
extremely fragile outer lips and lower spires.
The next morning a lovely tropical one found us off Amanu atoll, where we were to stay for two days. Mike Hall and I left
early that day in the dinghy with Bernard and landed on the reef near the pass. A swift current flows out through this pass
during the morning hours, and the "Maylis" had to wait the turn of the tide at noon when the current in the pass reverses
itself. The village near the pass was nearly deserted, due to the fact, as we learned later, that almost the entire
population had moved for a month to another island at the far end of the atoll to gather the copra there. While waiting for
the rest of our party to come ashore, I collected on the rather narrow reef near the pass entrance, and in my diary I note
collecting, among other shells, Cypraea caputserpentis L. under the rocks, and Peristernia nassatula Lam.
Shortly after noon we boarded the yacht after she had come through the pass and anchored in the lagoon near the village. That
night everyone but I went out on the reef for a try at night-collecting and "langoustes" or spiny lobster; as far as the
latter was concerned the outing was a failure.
brown fusus,shell-madebelts,varian,luhuanus,clam raw,hawaii,supplier shells,black agate,troca strawberry,brown fusus
Brown fusus cyprea mauretiana shells bracelet blacklip shell fashion distrosioanus capis shell rose clam raw material conus marmereous murex indivia longspine troca bead mother of pearl conus stratus strombus sinautus lambis milladeda.
brown fusus
Shell
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