Dear Andrew;-
        About the Busycon whelks: It seems to me that a good part of their
"seeming" brittleness comes from the facts that they live in very
shallow areas, present a large surface to wave action, and live in areas
where storms are quite common. Small compact shells will weather the
weather a lot easier than these larger mollusks.
        I am devistated at your implication that you are not coming to the COA
convention. Half my jokes were to be at your expence. Now I either have
to find someone else to rag----or increase your absent share to 75%.
        Art