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Florida Maritime Museum

Captain Banks Chronicles: Collecting

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“West out to 66 fm [fathoms] on a 27°22'. back N.E. to so end Big Elbow where did best in scree of W. Ledge. 4 nice spiny oysters.”—Log book, May 21, 1997

Banks often recorded when and where he found seashells, including the day he recovered four spiny (aka thorny) oysters. He used a method called dredging in which seabed sediments were scooped up and brought to the surface. Today, Florida has specific requirements about collecting seashells with a live animal. Anyone can collect empty shells, although even empty shells have a role in the ecosystem. Some are reused by other animals for shelter.

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The Atlantic Thorny Oyster (Spondylus americanus) is recognizable from the spines that cover its shells. These spines grow at a rapid rate of 1 mm per day. Though they appear threatening, the spines are actually used to attract other organisms, such as algae and sponges, to come and live on top of the shell. These organisms, called epibionts, help conceal the thorny oyster from predators. 

Captain Banks Chronicles: Collecting