The so called "southern most point" in Key West is not that at all.  The
actual southern most point was (is) the 6947th Electronic Security Sq.
Antenna Field.  It extends hundreds of meters south of the so called
southern most point -- but that is not popular with the local people as it
has no monetary value.

The area north of the so called southernmost point (pictured on some
news casts) is a combination of live and dead substrate - mostly the latter.
The most common species in this area is S. raninus, which can be found
year-round, but are more common in the Mar.-Apr. breeding period.  I have
shelled this area for many years - sometimes three times a day.

I have seen the results of a major hurricane on Key West, and while S.
raninus
were thrown assunder (hey they are the most common inshore species), S.
gigas were uncommon and only represended by "rollers" and were not common
in the drift - maybe a half a dozen or so - even after a major hurricane.

If the "rollers" are now so common, then maybe the S. gigas are in fact
making a comback.

Bill Frank
1865 Debutante Dr.
Jacksonville, Florida 32246
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--------------------
Visit the Jacksonville Shell Club Home Page
http://home.sprynet.com/~wfrank/jacksonv.htm


----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, October 16, 1999 7:42 PM
Subject: Re: Hurricane Irene & Conchs


> As to that TV news report about the shells in Key West--yes, I saw the
same
> report Friday evening here in Clearwater.  And, much to my surprise, yes,
the
> shells were indeed Conchs--Strombus gigas juveniles or "Rollers" as many
of
> us refer to them.  The tourist (I believe he was), indicated that the
shells
> were found in the flooded street ( I believe near the famous southernmost
> point).  He was holding 4 or 5 of them, but he indicated that he had
picked
> up nearly 100 that afternoon or something to that effect!!!!  I guess the
> authorities were too busy with the storm to notice.  Some afternoon of
> shelling!
>
> Carolyn Petrikin