To all and what a nice thread,

My love of the shell started with the influences from my grandfather. As
a young boy I marveled at his collection and in time, with a dogged
interest after awhile I soon began to refer to the specimens in the
scientific terminology. The originals shells of my collection were
either collected with him by my side or directly given to me from him.
He's been gone from this plane of life since 1977 but his spirit is with
me everyday. Some of you (if your old enough) may have had a contact
with him. His name was Joe Pentz, he did volunteer work and went on
several expeditions with the Museum of Natural History in Philadelphia
working with Dr. Pillsbury and Abbott. He is one of the first names on
the original charter of the Philadelphia Shell Club.


BRIAN J SCHWEIKERT
 Levittown Pa

-----Original Message-----
From: Conchologists List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Vicky Wall
Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 20:20
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] Memories in the Shells

Hello Ron and All,

You are so right about our hobby being filled with memories. I think for
me, shelling trips bring back so many good memories. It's so much fun to
be with other folks who love shells. My first real shelling trip was in
1988 with friends from the North Carolina Shell Club. Our trip was
organized and led by the late Alta VanLandingham. I'll always remember
our day at Airport Beach....I found my first of several carrier
shells...what a treat. Alta dubbed me "Queen for the Day".

Vicky Wall, NC





Hi, everyone!

Tonight I was told that a former acquaintance in Newfoundland, Canada,
had died of cancer.  This caused me to think of some of the things we
did together.  He was a coastal fisherman, and I accompanied him several
times.  I would get the chance to examine the stomachs of the codfish
for shells, and once I remember pulling up a holdfast containing two
species of Musculus.  He also fished for lobster, and I remember the
many species he obtained for me from his lobster traps, including my
first live Aporrhais occidentalis.  On one occasion he took me dredging
in his boat, and I remember the many chitons we obtained from gravel and
small rocks covered with pink Lithothamnion.  Now, when I visit the
provincial museum, to which I donated my Newfoundland collection, I will
think of him when I see those specimens.

In 1965, another acquaintance, a deep-sea dragger fisherman on the Grand
Banks, gave me a large bag filled with shells he had obtained for me
from the nets when the men were removing the fish.  Among this bounty
were my first live-taken Volutopsius norvegicus and Neptunea despecta
tornata.  Both were in perfect condition.  That following winter, his
ship was lost at sea with the entire crew.  For many years, every time I
was examining my Buccinidae, I would stop and look at those shells and
remember him, and the summer he gave me that wonderful gift.

No doubt, many of our list members may have had similar experiences,
when a particular shell or shells will make you remember someone
associated with those specimens who has since passed away.  If you wish
to share some of those "memories in the shells", I'm sure that all of us
would enjoy reading about those experiences.

All the best from Korea!
Ron Noseworthy

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