I have not been to a NC Scallop dump in many years, and don't really
know if there are any more in existence that are available to local
collectors.  These are huge piles of shells that are dumped by local
scallop fishermen - who have spent months fishing as far south as
Florida (and beyond?)  Some were also created by the local scallop
processors.
Anyhow, these shell dumps were a great source of some quite uncommon
shells.  Many have never been found elsewhere in NC.  It has been said
by several that Porter's first edition included some shells from the
scallop dumps that were not "really" NC shells.  It is entirely possible
that some of these shells were also dumped offshore before the boats
arrived back at their home port.
This is a good reason to not rely on dead-found shells for information
as to range or habitat.
As I understand it, Porter had some assistance from avid NC collectors
who were more familiar with what was really found in NC when he produced
the second edition of his book.

Karlynn
NC - USA

David Kirsh wrote:
> I can pretend I'm on a Caribbean island when I go to some North
> Carolina beaches. Then I have to remind myself where I am when I find
> some of these shells.
>
> Yesterday on Shackelford Island, I came across a somewhat worn but
> otherwise intact Hespererato maugeriae. And an aperture fragment of
> Tritonoharpa lanceolata. These are both recorded in Porter's (1974)
> book on NC shells. But still....
>
> Are they fossils that washed out of one of the sand dunes or could they
> be living in shallow water?
>
> Has anyone found Prunum roscidum live or even fresh-dead--and where?
> I've only found well-worn ones.
>
> David Kirsh
> Durham, NC
>
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