thx

Date sent:              Wed, 30 May 2001 13:41:38 -0000
Send reply to:          Conchologists of America List <[log in to unmask]>
From:                   Don Barclay <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:                Re: trip
To:                     [log in to unmask]

> Nope, not banned yet.  The Kiwis that live there would
> have already banned collecting, and will happily tell you
> that it is illegal to collect there.  In fact, it's only illegal to
> collect Charonia tritonis, and undersize tridacnids.  I think Trochus
> niloticus is another species that is regulated there, but I've never
> seen any in Tonga anyway.  And you can buy Charonia tritonis in any of
> the shops, and fresh Tridacna in the market.  To be technically legal,
> you have to have a permit from Fisheries to take the shells out of
> Tonga, no matter whether you collected them or not.  The permit costs
> 3 pa'anga.  That's about one U.S. dollar.  If you have a lot of stuff
> that you obviously collected and didn't buy, you will be reprimanded
> by the guys at Fisheries for collecting the shells and not buying them
> from the shops. If you have some shells or other souvenirs with you
> that you obviously bought, it makes your permitting easier.  It
> doesn't make the guy type any faster, though.
>
> Good luck,
>
>
>
> Don
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Geoff Macaulay" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 1:13 PM
> Subject: Re: trip
>
>
> > Dear Harold
> > I think you will find collecting is totally banned in Tonga by royal
> decree.
> > Where in Australia are you going?
> > Regards
> > Geoff
> >





Harold Leitenberg
Dept of Psychology
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405
Phone: 802-656-2661
Fax:802-656-8783