Thanks, Paul and Bob, for the invaluable information.  It sounds like the
dredges I mentioned are not the right kind for dredging shells (which makes
David Kirsh's question about whether they're for salt water moot.)  It also
sounds like a homemade dredge is something even I can build, and for a lot
less than $200.  I'll post back to the list as our plans firm up.

Dan

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