Scaphella junonia is certainly not a rare shell (West Florida).  When
the scallop boats are dragging, it is one of the more common shells brought
up
with the by-catch.  Of course, they are not common on the beach since
they live in 60 plus feet of water.  Rare -- only on the beach.

I have personally seen piles of them two feet high which were for sale
and have heard stories of some individuals who work the "trash line"
having 4,000 stashed for a rainy day.  I have also been offered them
in 100 shell lots in the Panhandle for $4 each.  Who needs another
hundred?

You can check out our reports on shelling the Panhandle by
going to:

http://home.sprynet.com/~wfrank/selected.htm

and selecting the appropriate article.

Regards,

Bill Frank
1865 Debutante Dr.
Jacksonville, FL 32246-8645
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~~~~~~~~~
Visit the Jacksonville Shell Club Home Page at:
http://home.sprynet.com/~wfrank/jacksonv.htm

----- Original Message -----
From: "Karen Vanderven" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2000 12:08 PM
Subject: Re: Oliva porphyria


> In 1975, I bought an Oliva Porphyria at the Shell Shop, Ocracoke
> North Carolina, for $14, because it looked so big to me. I still
> have the label- it was found in Guaymas, Mexico. It measured
> this morning at 110 cm.
> Two years ago, I bought 2, $30 each, from a dealer because they
> were so beautiful (not as big, one is 98 cm) but worth
> every penny and more.
>
> Re: the junonia, on that same trip oceanside I found a junonia
> 'skeleton; - obviously a junonia, there were spots on the parts
> of the shell that remained and its shape was unmistakable.
> I'm sorry I didn't keep it for my now "Look and Weep" box
> for those pieces of shell you find that if you had the whole
> thing you'd have a great specimen.
>
> Karen