Dear Ivan,
 
Don't remove that periostracum. It's part of the shell itself (although non
calcareous, but from other material) Some Strombus collectors (I think you
found a Strombus gigas, placed on the CITES list, so you cannot export it
out of the country) would have put such a specimen on their "wants lists".
 
Gijs
 
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Van: Captain Ivan Monclova, USMC <[log in to unmask]>
Aan: [log in to unmask]
Onderwerp: New Guy
Datum: vrijdag 11 december 1998 0:52
 
Ladies and Gents
 
    I'm not sure if I'm doing this right, but I imagine I'll soon know
that.  I am new to your list.  I am a Captain of Marines stationed in
Guantanamo Bay Cuba.  I am currently the Company Commander for Rifle
Securtiy Company Windward.  The main reason why I got on this list is that
I am an advid scuba diver and spear fisher.  I have started to collect a
shell or two as well.  There seems to be a great numbe of shells here and I
figured this would be a good place for me to learn some things about these
shells.  I do have one pressing question right now.  I found a large conch,
(don't ask, I have no idea what kind yet) about a foot and a half long, and
was trying to figure out how to clean and preserve the outside.  It has a
layer of tough brown crud which does not come off easily and I'm worried
that if I use something hard like an SOS pad or something I'll ruin the
nice pink shell underneath.  So is there an easy way to get that stuff off
or is it just plain old elbow grease.  Your help would be greatly
appreciated.  Thanks.
 
Ivan Monclova