This is what I've been concerned about in this thread about the CITES list.
 Not only is it illegal (very much so) to collect living OR dead material of
species on the CITES (Level 1) list, it is very illegal to be in POSSESSION
of material of these species.  One caveat....if you have formal
documentation proving that this material was collected and/or purchased
BEFORE the species was placed on the list.  For instance, if you have a
Bengal Tiger skin on your wall, purchased in the early 1960's, that's OK,
IF you have a dated sales slip.  If not, don't have a USFW officer over for
dinner, unless you know him/her real well.

People have gotten in big trouble for having bald eagle feathers, condor
bones, etc. even though the material was "salvaged" (collected dead).  Just
because a protected mollusk is dead, it doesn't mean it's OK to collect it.
 I don't collect Tridacna, even if they are dead AND I even have access to
a CITES permit.....not worth the trouble at Customs.  Buyer/collector beware.

Kurt


At 06:36 PM 12/8/99 -0500, you wrote:
>Andrew Vik
>[log in to unmask]
>
>Ardeth:
>
>I believe that it is illegal to collect dead or living shells of any
>terrestrial or freshwater mollusk on the endangered list. I don't know of any
>marine species being on the list, although various species are given local
>protection by state game officials. These are most often edible species.
>
>Andrew V.
>
>Ardeth Hardin wrote:
>
>> I know in 1985 there was a limit ( I think 10 Strombus Gigas per person in
>> the Floriday Keys) .and, if memory serves me correctly ,  I believe it was
>> 1986 that Strombus Gigas was put on the endangered list in Florida but I
>> understood you could still collect dead ones.
>>
>> Which of the endangered species that have been mentioned can you NOT
>> collect dead?
>>
>>   Ardeth Hardin
>> [log in to unmask]
>> Carrollton, Tx
>