We went on a trip to the Keys with Kirk Anders back in the '80s, and spent
3 days shelling around Marathon.  One afternoon, we found babalonia (sp?)
shells in the water at the motel.  After several arguments, it was
determined that they weren't "local."  At the shell shop the next day, we
told the people what we had found.  They laughed and said "That's what
those people wanted with those gallon buckets full of shells."  Seems  that
motel was going to be turned into time shares and the owners wanted
perspective buyers to think there were shells  there in abundance.  Even
those from the Pacific.  We really fell for the "salted" beach routine.
 
Carol