Dear David -
 
I had a trip to Belize in 1984 (January 3 to 6) which is quite a while ago,
but (for what it is worth) I will make a few comments.
 
We were group of 16 congenial people, that always helps make a trip a good
time.  We flew into Belize City and transferred to a small plane for the
short flight to San Pedro on the off-shore island of Ambergris Cay and
spent our 6 days there.  We did not spend any time on the mainland.  We
stayed at Ramon's Reef Resort which was not the Hilton but very acceptable.
 Of course it may no longer be in existence.  We did some collecting right
in front of the Resort, but most days we rented a boat.  All of our
collecting was on the east coast of the island.  One day we went to the
north end of the island where the reef comes in to shore and that was good.
 I think the biggest excitement was the finding of one live Xenophora
although several people found dead ones.  
 
In retrospect I would say the collecting was fair to good.  I was pleased
with what I found and was glad I had gone, but I would probably not go
there again as I like to try different places.  
 
When I went there were no restrictions on anything; however, times have
changed. If anyone has been there recently maybe you could give David some
advice on whether or not there are any shelling bans currently in effect.
 
In closing I would like to tell you a story.  Dr. Tucker Abbott was
curator here at our Delaware Museum of Natural History for several years.
I asked him one time about a trip I was thinking about to the Cayman
Islands.  I wanted to know if the shelling was good.  His response was "It
was good when I was there.  But a beach that was good last year, may not be
this year, and vice versa.  No one can guarantee shells anywhere."  
 
Of your brother does go, let us know his opinion of shelling in Belize.  
 
Betty Jean, The Tall One
 
At 12:35 PM 5/26/98 -0400, you wrote:
>For a shell-related question, doesn't anyone have suggestions about
>shelling in Belize, especially the north end of the country?  My brother
>will be there soon, and the only response to my previous inquiry was
>someone else who wanted information.
>Thanks!
>
>David Campbell
>
>"Old Seashells"
>Department of Geology
>CB 3315 Mitchell Hall
>University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
>Chapel Hill NC 27599-3315
>919-962-0685
>FAX 919-966-4519
>
>"He had discovered an unknown bivalve, forming a new genus"-E. A. Poe, The
>Gold Bug
> 
 
Betty Jean Piech    
Hockessin DE,USA
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_@/-The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.-\@_
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