This is a good question. I've noticed areas where the Strombus gigas seem to
run small as well (I also noticed the small Eleutheran costatus). Since the
veligers can come from far away it doesn't seem sensible to call them a
local population. It's possible that if they were overfished in an area
(gigas at Chub Cay, for instance) the smaller ones would be left to grow up,
since there isn't as much meat on them, but I don't think anyone fishes
costatus a lot.

Any thoughts, Paul?
Peggy
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                                  Peggy Williams
                                   Shell Elegant
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> From: Ellen Bulger <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: Conchologists of America List <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2001 21:19:53 EDT
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: conch size
>
> I still haven't packed my shells. I'm saving that task for last. But I've
> been collecting boxes and packaging for them. So I've been comparing the
> sizes of shells in order to estimate what I'll need.
>
> I noticed that the milk conchs I collected off Georgetown on Great Exuma are
> easily twice the size of the milk conchs I got behind the Governors Harbour
> Airport on Eleuthera (with the Cordys on one of their terrific trips).
> Likewise the Exuman hawkwing conchs are almost twice the size of the
> hawkwings from Eleuthera. What gives?
>
> The milk conchs off Eleuthera are there in quantity. We saw hundreds and
> hundreds of them grazing on the seabed and the beach was just littered with
> the empty shells. In Exuma, they aren't especially common. Do they get bigger
> where there is less competition for food? Does anyone have any ideas?
>
> Ellen (Who is stalling on her packing)