Nancy;

    The famous "golden cowrie" has been over-valued for a number of

years now, although high quality specimens are still uncommon (as a

species it leads a pretty rough and tumble life!!).   It lives in "rocky

crevices and caves from 15 to 45 meters: pretty easy pickings for SCUBA

divers.  About 6 or 7 years ago, divers in the Philippines became very

good at finding them, and SCUBA equipment became more readily available

there.  As a result, the supply has been exploding, as eager

entrepeneurs continue to bet that collectors will continue to "shell

out" inflated amounts for the species.  F+ specimens can be had for a

song if one has a good supplier, although TRUE F++ and above specimens

are still not found in any great numbers. //  The population is probably

not in any great danger of extreme over-collection, since there will

always be parts of the cracks and caves these beasties call home, which

divers can't reach.  That said, we may be reaching a "production peak"

for the more easily collected populations.



From the great, very Wet North,

Ross M.



Subject:                    Cypraea aurantium abundance?

        Date:                    Mon, 13 Oct 2003 15:42:13 -0700

       From:                    Nancy Smith <[log in to unmask]>



Fellow conch-ler's:



I often watch the thoroughfare of shells on Ebay mostly out of

curiosity.   Lately I've noticed an abundance of Cypraea aurantium

available from the Philippine suppliers.   Some are even being sold in

large lots of up to 15 specimens!    So I was curious, do you think this

represents over-collection of the species or over-abundance of the

population?  (or neither?)



Thanks for your thoughts.



Nancy Smith

www.nansaidh.us/operc