Hi All:
Alan J Korn published an article in "Venomous and Poisonous Animals and
Noxious Plants of the Pacific Area (Peramon Press) wherein he documents
37 known cases of cone stings, of which 10 were fatal. Of these, 5 were
C. geographus, 2 C. textile, and 3 unidentified.
 
Although not to be ignored, a little common sense in handling cones will
minimize the danger. Pick them up from the back end when the animal is
retracted. Don't carry them in cloth bags next to the body. Be careful
when they are in a container with other shells - this seems to agitate
them.
 
Bill Clendenin