Hi ... sorry for posting this to such a wide audience. I'm interested
in getting in touch with people who collect western mid-Atlantic shells,
esp. from the Chesapeake and Delaware Bay areas.
 
Wanted: information on good collecting spots in Maryland, Delaware, and
Virginia, that are not privately-owned beaches. Exchange info about
mid-Atlantic specimens (Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, MD, DE, and VA
barrier islands).
 
Long-term goal: compile shell info (incl. fossil shells) for this region
on a webpage, hopefully with an on-line field guide, suggestions for good
shelling locations and timing, recording interesting finds (ie. rare
species, documenting range limits of other common northern/southern shells,
if possible find out more about dredged specimens), and documenting
shellfishing and conservation issues.
 
I still consider myself a beginner so there's going to be a long
learning curve. But the best way to learn about local shells is to commit
to some kind of information-gathering project. Since this is a rather
narrow geographical focus, I don't want to clutter this mailing list with
further postings. If you are a mid-Atlantic shell fan, and would like to
exchange information, please get in touch with me. At some point, when
I've compiled enough useful facts, I'll post it to Conch-l.
 
E-mail: [log in to unmask]  or  [log in to unmask]
Home number: 410-377-2619
Work number: 410-338-4412
 
thanks!
        Shireen Gonzaga
        Baltimore, MD