Burying shells is a good way to clean but does have a few drawbacks. I read
once about a lady in Hawaii who buried shells but then a local cat would
sometimes dig them up and cart off with the booty. Second and most relevant
reason is that the decaying animal sometimes produces an acid like substance
that will etch the glossy parts of the shell resulting in a dull haze. Mark
James Bethke
-----Original Message-----
From: Seastarr49 <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Saturday, March 21, 1998 10:12 PM
Subject: Re: Cleaning shells
 
 
>ALOHA,
>This is the first time I have sent a message since I signed on several
months
>ago.
>I guess I'm a lurker, but I have enjoyed listening and learning very  much.
>Now, I have a question?  Whenever suggestions for cleaning shells are
given,
>it is
>always for freezing or boiling.  Why is burying never suggested.   I have
>buried all
>all my shells with no problems.  The only drawback I suppose is that you
have
>no
>animal to study, but then you also have no smell to contend  with.  I
usually
>buried
>them several inches deep, then covered the spot  with a large board or
rock,
>for
>two reasons.  1) so you don't lose track of where you buried
them.(something I
>learned the hard way), and 2). so animals won't dig them up, (again,
something
>I
>learned the hard way).   Keep them buried for 1-2 wks.  Then, dig them up,
>wash in
>warm sudsy water, rinse with hose and check (by smell) for any remaining
>animal.
>Rebury, or use bleach or peroxide or whetever is appropreate to make the
>shells presentable.  Also, when you bury them, put a piece of cardboard
over
>the shell, so that when you dig them up, you won't hit the shell and damage
>it, and always keep the apature down, so the deacaying animal secretions
won't
>damage the shell.  This has always worked for me,  but I never see it
>suggested.  Please let me know the pros and cons  of this method.  Mahalo
>(thank-you).
>
>Seastarr49,  aka Shirley Cole
>