As per the discussion as to how many specimens one should collect, I decided
I should add my opinion and actions to the thread.  I have always tried to
adhere to the collecting ethics published by the Hawaiian Malacological
Society a number of years ago.
 
        As I thought about this I realized that the number of my "take" varies
considerably from one situation to another.  In marine situations I tend to
take only the few I need.  For terrestrial snails and freshwater mussels I
normally take only dead shells as these are usually readily available.  When I
do take live specimens of terrestrial snails of freshwater mussels it is for a
research need, need for a voucher which cannot be taken otherwise, etc.  For
freshwater snails, I realize I tend to take a larger sample (50 - 150) as
needed for comparative studies and sharing with others.  Freshwater snails
tend to be so variable that I have found that a larger sample is usually
better.  For those who would be or are offended by this, understand that
freshwater snails usually are found in such abundance that such a take is
minuscule.  Of course, I do not do this for "protected species" regardless of
how abundant they may be in a certain area.  In any environment I pick up as
many specimens of "dead shells" as I can carry as I feel they are better
spread around in various collections or museums rather than left to the
corrosive forces of nature.
 
        Also many of the permits I have from various states specify a number or
percentage of each species I may take.  Usually this is listed as 10% or less
of any given population (not that I take that many).
 
        I am conservation conscious and try to leave a habitat as well or better than
I find it, but I also realize that as someone mentioned earlier, scientific
collecting may sometimes dictate a larger sample that the few typically taken
by collectors.
 
        I welcome the comments of others on this thread,  In particular I ask Kevin,
Tom, Andy, Marion, Harry, and others to share their views.
 
Doug Shelton
Alabama Malacological Research Center
2370-G Hillcrest Road #236
Mobile, AL  36695  USA