United States Department of Agriculture
-----Original Message-----
From: Gunasena De Silva <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wednesday, December 08, 1999 8:20 PM
Subject: Re: help!


>dear frends,
>Can someone please explain what USDA stands for ? thnak you
>Gunasena de silva.
>Colombo / SRI LANKA.
>
>At 03:07 AM 12/8/99 -0500, you wrote:
>>Hi:
>>
>>I received a copy of the Conchologist journal a couple of days ago.
>>Finally finished reading it last night.  Will definitely be
>>subscribing!  Can't believe I've found a group of people who actually
>>collect seashells as adults (LOL)!!
>>
>>Until I read the magazine and joined this group, I never really
>>thought much about the critters that create these shells.  What role
>>do they play in the ocean's ecosystems?
>>
>>The only shell I was really familiar with is Queen Conch.  When I
>>lived in Utila, Spanish Honduras (island off the coast), I used to eat
>>conch soup on a regular basis.  Have never eaten scallops or oysters.
>>(No desire to either!!!!)  Am now allergic to any seafood with iodine
>>in it which rules out shrimp, lobster, shellfish, etc.
>>
>>I picked up several shell books at the local university library (go
>>MSU).  This is an exciting new hobby for me that mixes well with my
>>physical limitations.
>>
>>I've been doing a bit of research but haven't located any information
>>about shellfish in Michigan.  Other than the zebra mussel, do we have
>>any?  Are they endangered or protected?
>>--
>>Diana Pederson, Lansing, Michigan, United States, USDA Zone 5
>>Editor:  http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/enabling_garden
>>Join Suite101 today:  http://www.suite101.com/join.cfm/553
>>