In a message dated 01-05-17 08:04:35 EDT, you write:

<<
 Well lets not cut up a beautiful specimen lets examine the fact (they have
 been found to be filled with sea water ) >>
Greetings all,
I have been fortunate enough to have found numerous halves of this wonderful
bivalve in varying states of condition, and I can assure you that the knobs
are hollow.  I have only found one complete "Lion's Paw", and the top half of
the shell was covered in knobs, and the bottom half was not.  I have seen
knobs on specimens less than an inch wide, and many with no knobs at all.
When beachcombing, 9 times out of 10 the Lions Paws will be at the outer
drift line,  which should confirm the buoyancy of the shell.
Hope this helps,
Joni