Hi everyone, there is an interesting article about the decimation of the
strombus gigas population at the following address:
<http://www.miaminewtimes.com/1999/032599/feature1-1.html>  This is like
a local free press.  The writing is a little shaky and the research a
little shaky too but it does a decent job discussing the problem with
the shrinking populations and the attempts to raise the snails in a
hatchery.  Just a word in closing to all those who collect the juveniles
and adults while alive and quickly remove some of the animal then tell
anyone who asks, "I found it fresh dead".  You are hurting the
population, please stop. To those who choose to continue, I hope you
find out how the food in federal prison tastes and the fines dent your
wallet. Maybe we should boycot buying the big and smaller shells, any
thoughts?  Michael Huggins, Sunrise, FL