Dear Andy et al;-
    Excuse me for using this venue for several matters.
    Matter #1: In South Carolina, everyone knows about "Coquina stew" or "Coquina soup"---but I never met anyone who tried it. They're fingernail sized and would take a whole heap to make a decent soup. Better to buy Campbells tomato.
    #2: I propose: Let us re-instate both Pete Rose and Helmut. What could it hoit? So Helmut advertises. Andrew keeps asking for sinister gastropods. I only have a few that are slightly threatening.
    #3: I forget what #3 is.
    #4: I am serious about the Shell Hall of Fame. It deserves a lot more discussion.
    #5: Does anyone know if Norm Paschall (sp) is still among us?  Norm made some valuable contributions to conchology, was last known to be in the Old Sailors Home in southern Mississippi.
    #6: If some ass asked: what is the most valuable shell---what would yer answer be?
    Enough!
       Art
>
> From: Andy Rindsberg <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 2004/02/04 Wed PM 01:19:42 EST
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: San Francisco Bay (Donax)
>
> Oh, they'll eat anything in California. At Pismo Beach in the 70's, I once
> had a clam platter consisting of fried clams of several species, including
> the beautiful Pismo Clam (Tivela). As I recall, the Razor Clam, with a
> relatively strong flavor, was my favorite.
>
> I've heard that Donax variabilis can be made into a tasty chowder, if you
> like sand. Don't know anyone who's tried it. I wouldn't recommend it these
> days on the Alabama coast during the tourist season, because of water
> contamination. Most of that coastline (formerly one of the nation's most
> beautiful with dunes made of bright white quartz sand) has been built up in
> the past 20 years and is now self-described as the 'Redneck Riviera'. The
> dunefield has been leveled and largely covered by beach houses, condos,
> hotels, and their attendant parking lots. Obviously some people don't know
> what a beach is for.
>
> I've been following the comments on Donax and SF Bay with interest. Sylvia
> Edwards made the observation that Donax v. becomes locally abundant on a
> Florida Panhandle shore after rains makes a lake spill over into the sea.
> Why? Linda, thanks for providing Peter with specimens -- I can't send my
> dead-collected study specimens, and I suspect he wants them live-collected
> anyway. I return the live ones after counting them.
>
> The smaller Donax species are hard to distinguish, to the point where I
> suspect that only a lady Donax can tell the laddies of different species
> apart. Or David Campbell in his molecular genetics lab!
>
> More on bay ecology later. VERY interesting comments and information.
> Incidentally, what has become of Elkhorn Slough and Bodega Bay, California
> in recent years?
>
> Cheers,
> Andy
>
> Andrew K. Rindsberg
> Geological Survey of Alabama
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Conchologists of America List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 12:03 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: San Francisco Bay
>
>
> Kay;-
>   Canned Donax?  I rather imagine it may have been a matter of "Who'd buy?"
>   Art
> >
> > From: Kay Peterson <[log in to unmask]>
> > Date: 2004/02/04 Wed AM 10:53:21 EST
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: San Francisco Bay
> >
> > I have read that there was at one time a plan to open a plant at Long
> > Beach, California, to can the little Donax gouldii.  This must have
> > been in the '20s or 30's.  Evidently the supply wasn't as plentiful as
> > hoped, or else the population crashed.
> >
> > Kay
> >
> >
>
> PLEASE NOTE: My new, long-term, and correct email address is:
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>

PLEASE NOTE: My new, long-term, and correct email address is: [log in to unmask] Please update your records!