Hi Lyle,

>) do you screen your grit and sand right there or do you bring it
>home....

I know some people screen on-the-scene but I usually check if it looks "fruitful" and then get down there on the level with the sand fleas (hopefully not) and stare a lot with a 4X hobby loupe. If I'm diving, I get a zip-lock-full to bring home.

>and what is the "best" grit or sand to get to look in......

At the beach, I check the strand line, esp. at the ends of the beach, and also just under the surge line if it's not too rough. When I'm diving, I look for pockets of coral rubble--not too fine, not too coarse.

>I'm thinking about a weekend getaway from work and home if I cant
>find any larger shells I might pick up some grit, drift, sand to bring home
>and look at later with my lens.  Any suggestions?
>
>Lyle

If it's not too windy, I get the ferry to Shackelford Island and spend hours hunched over looking through the strand line(s) with my loupe. Sometimes when I look up, the wild horses are right next to me trying to understand what the crazy human is doing.

The key is: patience. If you've got a fairly productive spot, you might be surprised what you can find if you REALLY slow down and check thoroughly. My eyes start to notice different patterns to pick out. In the living room, I use a 15X lens and check a thin u-shaped line of grit twice. With a 15X lens, I can spot Ammoniceras and scissurellids if I'm attentive.

I hope this is helpful and I'd like to hear how others do their hunting.

David


"It is even harder for the average ape to believe that he has descended from man." -- H. L. Mencken

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