Hello Steven!

First of all, your question is 100% appropriate to the list, as are ALL
conchology-related questions.  That's one great strength of Conch-L.  We
have all kinds of "shellers" - professionals at large institutions, advanced
collectors, beginners, shellcrafters, and dealers.  The topics we have
discussed range from technicalities of taxonomic rules to methods of
cleaning and storing shells; from chemistry of shell composition to
dangerous situations we have encountered while shelling; from mechanics of
speciation to dreams we have had which featured shells.  So feel right at
home.

We are neighbors.  I live in Rhode Island currently, but grew up in
Massachusetts (New Bedford area), and have been collecting shells in the
general area for about 40 years.  There are plenty of good collection spots
in the area.  To name just a few:

Seabrook Beach, New Hampshire (just over the Mass. line).  Lunatia heros is
unusually common here, and in shallow water.  Not the big, heavy brown ones
found farther south.  These are smaller, a pretty gray with pinkish near the
suture.  Their main food here is Mesodesma arctata, which is also common.
Don't try snorkling here, even in summer, unless you use a wetsuit.  The
water is COLD.  I once got a severe case of hypothermia here by staying in a
half hour without a wet suit, and have been very careful ever since.

Manomet Point, Manomet, Mass. - Great spot for typical New England cold
water rocky habitat.  Nucella lapillus and Littorina obtusata everywhere.
The largest Littorina littorea I have ever seen (got a few over 35 mm).
Acmaea testudinalis.  Hiatella arctica under rocks near low tide level.
Modiolus modiolus.  Occasionally Neptunea decemcostata and Buccinum undatum
near low tide level.  Also lots of urchins, brittle stars, and other
interesting sea life.  You have to go at low tide.  Vertical tidal range is
about 10 feet, and everything is covered at high tide.  Also, watch for the
incoming tide!  It comes in fast, and a couple of times I had to wade
through waist-deep, ice-cold water to get back to shore because I waited a
bit too long.

Plymouth Beach - somewhat muddy, few rocks.  Ensis directus, Macoma
balthica, Spisula solidissima, a few other bivalves.  Not many gastropods.

Barnstable Harbor - silty sand, fauna similar to Plymouth.

Onset Beach, Cape Cod - muddy sand, largest Pecten irradians I have seen (up
to 100 mm).  Various other bivalve species.  Nassarius obsoletus and
sometimes N. vibex.

Harbor Beach, Mattapoisett, Mass. - sheltered, quiet beach of muddy sand.
Busycon canaliculatum.  Polinices duplicatus.  BIG Mercenaria mercenaria.
Laevicardium mortoni.  Tagelus plebeius.  Geukensia demissa (the large,
mud-dwelling form).  Anadara ovalis.  Solemya velum.  Nassarius obsoletus by
the bucketfull.  Crepidula plana inside large dead shells.  Watch for hermit
crabs carrying Littorina littorea shells ... about every 10th shell has a
Crepidula convexa attached.  You can wade or snorkle WAY out from shore.

Fort Phoenix, Fairhaven, Mass.  This is a state park, but no-one objects to
shell collecting.  On the point, near the hurricane barrier, just below the
fort itself.  Crepidula fornicata (hundreds on the beach, many of them
fresh).  Nassarius trivittatus, Littorina littorea, Littorina saxatilis,
Eupleura caudata, Urosalpinx cinerea, Mitrella lunata, Anachis translirata,
Bittium alternatum, Seila adamsi, Anomia simplex.  Geukensia demissa (the
small, rock-dwelling form)

Of course, additional species are found at all the above locations.  I have
only mentioned a few that I remember as typical of the specific areas.

Good luck!

Regards,
Paul Monfils