Emilio is correct.  In the town of Yumuri in eastern Cuba, townspeople
sell Polymita to the tourists, but when the local police come around,
the shells disappear until the police leave.  The locals will take these
shells and string them into necklaces and other ornaments.  Even though
the Polymita is protected in Cuba,except for scientific purposes, in the
Havana marketplace there are strings of P. muscarum neclaces which sell
for 20 cents each, or so I am told. . .
Alan Gettleman
Merritt Island, FL

emilio wrote:

> Hello!
>
> The Liguus virgineus are becoming decimated due to overcollecting AND
> destruction
> of habitat. They also exist in the Dominican Republic [same island of
> Hispaniola].
> In the Dominican Republic there are smaller populations since the land
> was developed
> earlier for sugar plantations as well as tropical fruit and banana
> cultivation. In Haiti
> most habitats except for the mountainous regions are being destroyed.
> This plus the
> overcollecting for the CRAFT trade has made large inroads into the
> Haitian populations.
>
> Dont even think of "non-restricted" places. One of these days someone
> is going to get
> nailed. In Cuba there are protected areas and some "laws" against
> collecting Polymita
> and Liguus. Be careful as you may wind up in an awkward situation.
>
> It depends on who got you, their mood, the latest politically correct
> outlook, and
> their "Boss, look what I caught!!" syndrome etc.
>
> Later,
>
> Emilio Jorge Power