Bob,

hence my post several weeks ago when I stated I would love to see small
changes to online auctions and whatnot, especially people who sell
specimens they know nothing about. My favorite online ebay auction was 7-8
months ago when some person posted at least 50 auctions for tiger cowries
and other abundant species and was offering them at $49.99 each, stating
they were rare and desirable. I dont believe he/she sold any specimens and
I know for a fact they received at least 5 emails from me alone proclaiming
how much of a sham that was.

Douglas mentioned the coral.....to be quite honest I am appalled to see
people sell gigantic heads of coral for astronomical money,,,,,it's no
wonder the reefs are slowly dying away when people actively snap off 2 foot
growths of coral in one fell swoop! Makes me ill and I was under the
assumption all corals were protected? or is that only within certain
boundaries too!

On a different note, when I recently visited Cayo Costa ( sp.?) (just a
stone throw from Captiva)  I found a very nice sea whip churned up on the
beach. I kept it, and laid it under several books for several weeks in some
newspaper, it dried out beautifully,  nice and flat.....and it's ten times
nicer than any sea whip I've seen on ebay EVER, why? because I found it. *S*

As for this gaskoini.....is this even a valid subspecies name? never heard
it myself, I just sold a very large gaskoini not too long ago, I should
have called it gaskoini titan and offered it for five times as much money!
( I oozed sarcasm there )


~LT~


> [Original Message]
> From: Bob Dayle <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 12/27/2005 3:18:16 PM
> Subject: What kind of shell for sale?...
>
> Perhaps someone knows just what kind of shell is being offered on eBay...
>
> Here is what the description says:
>
> "Name:Cypraea gaskoini fisheri [sic] Vaysierre [sic],1910.
> Location:Waianae, Oahu, Hawaii.
> Grade:GEM.
> Size: 14mm(By Digital Caliper)
> CYPRAEA FISHERI:GEM 14MM RARE DWARF MALE F OF GASKOINI!
> Item title: CYPRAEA FISHERI: GEM 14MM RARE DWARF MALE F OF GASKOINI"
> Auction #6590586086
>
> Since the shell itself is empty, who is validating the sex of the animal?
> Besides, this 14mm shell is typical of the C. gaskoini from the Waianae
coast
> and, if this is the "male form," then I have ten mated pairs of 'gay' C.
> gaskoini from that side of Oahu!
>
> Where did this seller get the posted information? I can only find one
mention of
> Cypraea gaskoini fischeri on the web (none of "fisheri"). Does someone on
this
> list KNOW who the seller is? If so, could someone ask "shellshowshells" of
> Kapolei, Hawaii, to reconsider how this shell is listed?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob Dayle
>
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