Dear Conch-Ler's,  I am sure that most of you have read of the very fine
textile called 'Tarantine' that  was produced, from the byssus of the noble
pen shell, Pinna nobilis (Linnaeus,1758). An industry flourished around
Taranto (Italy) in the 17th and 18th Century, according to several authors.
 The question I would like to pose is are there any examples of this
material  around to-day, or have any of our subscribers ever seen this
material, which some think was the 'golden fleece' of Greek Mythology.
Stanley Francis