We have collected MANY dwarf Strombus gigas in Eleuthera.    The Eleutherians do
eat a large amount of Strombus costatus also.    We have also found more color
variations in the Strombus costatus in Eleuthera....purple, pink and yellow and
orange.

Peggy Williams wrote:

> 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
>                      Visit my website at http://www.shelltrips.com
>                                   Peggy Williams
>                                    Shell Elegant
>                                     PO Box 575
>                                 Tallevast FL 34270
>                                    (941) 355-2291
>                             [log in to unmask]
>
> > 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)

--
Jim and Bobbi Cordy
Specializing in Self Collected Caribbean Species
Merritt Island Florida

SPACE COAST SHELL FESTIVAL
"King Neptunes Shell Palace"
January 18-20,2002