This is a source of confusion. To most from the US 3/2/2013 would be March
the second 2013. In most of the rest of the world this would be the third
day of the second month (Feb) 2013.

Either writing the month out or using Roman Numerals for the month works.
If the date is the 13th or above you can be sure of what the collector
meant, if the date is from 1-12 there will be uncertainty unless you use
one of these conventions which were described by other posters.


> "-          Also write out date (U.S. month comes first)"
> I guess you mean: write out the month (11 December 2013). Alternatively,
> write the month in Roman numerals (11.XII.2013). It's language-neutral.
> In any case, write clearly.
> Marien
>
> Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 02:21:35 +0000
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] Amateurs in the field: How may they help?
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi, Mike.
>
> Looking forward to hearing your talk at the club.  I read my emails
> backwards today to get down to your post.  The only things I might
> consider that are missing
>  are:
> -
> Don’t abbreviate locality information (e.g. “CO” could mean “care of”,
> “county”, “company”, etc.)
> -
> Also write out date (U.S. month comes first)
> -
> Fixation- you must relax the specimen first before live preserving it or
> it will retreat into it’s shell or close tightly (i.e. “clam up”). There
>  are various fixatives but epsom salts is the easiest to acquire.
> Freezing slowly also works.  Check out the book in question
> -
> Legality- Make yourself aware of current collecting laws in the area you
> are visiting. Also transport and customs.  This type of information is
> often
>  very difficult to acquire easily.  I frequently just ship my  specimens
> home with expedited shipping in bags within bags (aquarium store bags
> that tie NOT zip lock).  Leave ¾ of the bag empty (i.e. with oxygen) for
> the trip.  There are also bags called “breather
>  bags” which allow air passage but not water passage.  If you use these
> fill all the way with water.
> -
> Spread your lots and transport each by more than one method.  If any get
> damaged, lost, or taken by customs, you still have some left.
> -
> Make locality information as specific as possible.  Ideally, someone
> reading your label should be able to visit the exact spot where you
> collected.
> -
> More field notebook information: identifier (if not you), preservation
> type, collecting method(s), scientific name (if you know it), other
> collectors
>  besides yourself,
>
>
> Best,
> Jay Cordeiro
>
>
>


Regards,
Charlie
.................................................
Charlie Sturm

Treasurer
American Malacological Society

Research Associate - Section of Mollusks
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Associate Professor - Family Medicine
Fellow-American Academy of Family Practice
Fellow-Academy of Wilderness Medicine

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