Hello Bob,

You were talking about species from the Caribbean. As I am working on
Caribbean molluscs used for food, I was wondering if you know of some
smaller species (Nerita, Littorina) being eaten now or in the past.If you
want you can e-mail me privately. Thanks Dennis.


At 08:28 11-04-00 -0400, you wrote:
>James, I'm one of those people that make a living with seashells.  I
>just want to say that I know a lot of the mollusk are used for food.  I
>wished they all could be, but not so.  Anyway, We have about 12
>different Scallops in our bins that are used for food, and then for
>craft.  The Livona pica "Magpie" in the Caribbean are used for food and
>then the shells are sent to Mexico to be polished and sent back to the
>states to sell in shops.  More of these food shells are being done this
>way now.  In the Bahamas not only do you see large piles of pink conchs,
>but many discared Livona pica.
>
>One word to Mr Gupta.  I think the Cassis cornuta is protected now.
>Tom, do you know if any of the shells that you mentioned are eaten?  And
>Paul you mentioned many shells but no mention of a food supply.  What
>shell animals do you think are eaten out of your large list.  I know
>that many are.  I am told the the Large Murex ramosus out of Thailand
>are eaten.  I can't prove it.
>
>There is a need for some control on shells and shelling, but the way
>it's going, people in high places that don't know and haven't done much
>research are placing bans on shells.  Some are needed.  More research is
>needed and then the regulation would make more sense, like on the fish.
>They can still be caught, but within limits.  There are some people that
>want shelling banned altogether.  I know that you are reading this, and
>thinking that I am trying to save my business.  True up to a point, but
>I was a and still am a collected first and then I started selling
>shells.  I can put in Tee shirts and ball hats etc. if all the shells
>become protected.  The people that really know don't get involved.  I
>think that what I'm always been interested in is what shell animals are
>eaten and which ones aren't.  Many years ago we had a lady in our Shell
>Club that tried eating almost every shell animal found in our area, as a
>research project.  She's still alive.
>
>Bob Lipe
>
>Check us out at our Website: http://www.theshellstore.com
>The Shell Store
>348 Corey Ave
>St. Pete Beach 33706
>Phone: 727-360-0586 FAX: 727-360-3668
>
>
Dennis C.Nieweg