The regulations (last year) read that if they are in accompanied
baggage, no inport license, permits or inspections are required.  Live
things are something else as are items on the endangered species list or
on the prohibited for export list of the country from which you obtained
them. Shells in household shipments are also in this status.

Other problems arise if you can be considered as doing research in most
countries when export permits are required
--
                     Aloha from Wesley M. Thorsson
Editor of Internet Hawaiian Shell News, a monthly Internet Publication
           122 Waialeale St, Honolulu, HI  96825-2020,  U.S.A
       http://www.hits.net/~hsn                 [log in to unmask]