THE SEARCHER

a publication of the Sea Shell Searchers of Brazoria County

December, 2003

The primary purpose of the Sea Shell Searchers of Brazoria County, a not for profit organization, is to provide educational opportunities for the scientific study and conservation of molluscs and other related fields.

Membership is open to everyone. See the club web page for details. Correspondence regarding the newsletter should be directed to Newsletter Editor, SSSBC, 400 College Dr, Clute Texas 77531. <http://bcfas.org/museum/SSSBC/SSSBC.html>

 
Next meeting Dec 2nd 7:00 PM at Museum of Natural Science
400 College Dr Clute, Tx
Program is Christmas Party. Everyone bring a covered dish to share. 
Shello will be played so bring your gift.
 

Minutes Nov 4th, 2003

CALL TO ORDER: The November 4, 2003 meeting of the Sea Shell Searchers was called to order by vice president Steven Coker.

SECRETARY’S REPORT: Motion by Cliff Harris, second by Alan Satchel to approve minutes as mailed in newsletter. Motion passed.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Wayne Humbird reported a balance.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

  1. Membership: Steven Coker is still working on directory
  2. Newsletter: Wayne Humbird can write to website but it cannot be read.
  3. Field Trips: Dean Harris reported on the local field trip November 8; November 22 going to Guaymas, Mexico; day after Christmas going to South Padre, more information in newsletter
  4. Hospitality: Frieda White reported that next month is Holiday party; bring dish to share. If you wish to participate in gift exchange bring gift. Limit is $10.
  5. Museum Study Project: Roe Davenport has not measured any shells; Leslie Crnkovic sent all our records to Kim Hutsell for the world record book.
  6. Historian: Dale Satchel brought the albumn.
  7. Auction: Wayne Humbird - Thanks to all who donated and bought, he is taking donations for next year’s auction

FAVORITE SHELL: Tina Petway will give a program on cones

OLD BUSINESS

  1. Shell Show: Patty Humbird thanked everyone who participated in the shell show. It was a great success
  2. Shell Show: Steven Coker gave a financial report for Wanda Coker

NEW BUSINESS

  1. By-law change: Steven Coker explained that we need someone who will take care of incorporation reporting to the state. Add the words: "The treasurer will be responsible for submitting corporation papers to the state of Texas". Motion by Cliff Harris, second by Dave Barziza to make the change. Motion passed.
  2. Festival of Lights: Patty Humbird reported that we will be putting a display at the Civic Center. Let Patty know if you want to put in a display.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tina Petway presented the Pulley award from the Houston Conchology Society to Irene Norris (who was unfortunately in the hospital) for her Lightning Whelk exhibit at the shell show.

ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Cliff Harris, second by Dennis Harris.

Program: Steven Browning gave a program on Haliotis

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Festival of Lights Report

We had a wonderful exhibit for the Festival of Lights. 12 members (Cathy Betley, Wanda and Steven Coker, Irene Norris, Janey Nill, Rusty Stover, Leslie Crnkovic, Roe Davenport, Harold and Frieda White, Wayne and Patty Humbird) exhibited. We exhibited 25 displays in 240 feet. 500 visitors came through the exhibit. Thank you to everyone who helped with this event.

You can see a panoramic view of the show on the shell show web site.

http://bcfas.org/museum/SSSBC/ShellShows/SSDEMO/SSDEMO.html
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How to Preserve and Harden a Sand Dollar

 

This is an often asked question by shellers on shelling trips. One of the keys to cleaning a live sand dollar is also very often the least known. In order to get a sand dollar to bleach white it is important to soak it in fresh water first. Here are the steps you should follow in order to preserve live sane dollars.

 

  1. Gather the sand dollars and as soon as possible soak them in fresh water. The water will turn a brownish color and after a while they begin to smell, so change the water frequently. If you are pressed for time you may continually flush them with water until the water stays clear.
  2. The next step is to soak them in a solution of bleach and water. Use 1 cup of bleach to one gallon of water. Do not soak them for over 10 minutes at one time as the bleach will degrade the structure of the sand dollar.
  3. Remove from the bleach solution and rinse with fresh water and let dry.
  4. If additional whitening is desired, repeat steps 2 and 3.

 

Each soaking in bleach weakens the sand dollars a little more so it is not recommended to soak them more than 2-3 times. If they are still not bleached white it is best to let the sun whiten them the rest of the way.

 

After the sand dollar has been whitened, simply brush with a 50:50 mixture of Elmer’s White Glue and water and let dry. This will harden the sand dollar.

 

- Reprinted from the Capsule, Astronaut Trail Shell Club



http://co-ops.nos.noaa.gov






December
































Date



Day



Time



Height





Time



Height





Time



Height





Time



Height








12/1/2003



Mon



06:29AM



0.8



L



09:50AM



0.9



H



04:44PM



0.3



L



11:54PM



1.1



H






12/2/2003



Tue



06:45AM



0.5



L



11:47AM



0.9



H



05:53PM



0.5



L












12/3/2003



Wed



12:08AM



1



H



07:06AM



0.3



L



01:20PM



0.9



H



07:00PM



0.7



L






12/4/2003



Thu



12:18AM



1



H



07:29AM



0.2



L



02:35PM



1



H



08:03PM



0.8



L






12/5/2003



Fri



12:26AM



0.9



H



07:53AM



0



L



03:35PM



1.1



H



09:02PM



0.9



L






12/6/2003



Sat



12:30AM



1



H



08:18AM



-0.1



L



04:25PM



1.2



H



09:59PM



0.9



L






12/7/2003



Sun



12:27AM



1



H



08:46AM



-0.2



L



05:09PM



1.2



H












12/8/2003



Mon



09:16AM



-0.3



L



05:53PM



1.2



H


















12/9/2003



Tue



09:50AM



-0.3



L



06:37PM



1.2



H


















12/10/2003



Wed



10:25AM



-0.3



L



07:25PM



1.2



H


















12/11/2003



Thu



11:03AM



-0.3



L



08:15PM



1.2



H


















12/12/2003



Fri



11:42AM



-0.3



L



09:01PM



1.2



H


















12/13/2003



Sat



12:22PM



-0.2



L



09:40PM



1.2



H


















12/14/2003



Sun



01:06PM



-0.1



L



10:08PM



1.1



H


















12/15/2003



Mon



01:53PM



0



L



10:27PM



1



H


















12/16/2003



Tue



02:47PM



0.2



L



10:41PM



0.9



H


















12/17/2003



Wed



05:23AM



0.4



L



10:40AM



0.7



H



03:49PM



0.3



L



10:51PM



0.9



H






12/18/2003



Thu



05:42AM



0.2



L



12:35PM



0.8



H



05:02PM



0.6



L



10:58PM



0.9



H






12/19/2003



Fri



06:17AM



-0.1



L



02:04PM



0.9



H



06:26PM



0.8



L



11:04PM



0.9



H






12/20/2003



Sat



07:00AM



-0.4



L



03:17PM



1.1



H



07:53PM



0.9



L



11:11PM



1



H






12/21/2003



Sun



07:47AM



-0.7



L



04:22PM



1.3



H



09:13PM



1



L



11:24PM



1.1



H






12/22/2003



Mon



08:36AM



-0.9



L



05:22PM



1.3



H


















12/23/2003



Tue



09:28AM



-0.9



L



06:19PM



1.3



H


















12/24/2003



Wed



10:21AM



-0.9



L



07:14PM



1.3



H


















12/25/2003



Thu



11:14AM



-0.9



L



08:03PM



1.2



H


















12/26/2003



Fri



12:07PM



-0.7



L



08:45PM



1



H


















12/27/2003



Sat



01:00PM



-0.4



L



09:20PM



0.9



H


















12/28/2003



Sun



03:33AM



0.7



L



05:50AM



0.8



H



01:52PM



-0.2



L



09:47PM



0.9



H






12/29/2003



Mon



04:25AM



0.5



L



08:02AM



0.6



H



02:46PM



0



L



10:08PM



0.8



H






12/30/2003



Tue



05:07AM



0.3



L



10:10AM



0.5



H



03:47PM



0.3



L



10:25PM



0.8



H






12/31/2003



Wed



05:44AM



0.1



L



12:13PM



0.6



H



05:09PM



0.5



L



10:38PM



0.7



H









 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Sea Shell Searchers of Brazoria County


400 College Dr


Clute, Tx 77531