How to Start a Seashell Collection
Seashell collecting is a beautiful and interesting hobby due to the wide variety of species, natural habitats and rich color schemes you'll see. Novice collectors start out slowly, but an avid seashell gatherer has entire catalogs on display or tucked away for safekeeping.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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Gather Supplies to Start a Seashell Collection
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1
Decide how you want to store your collection before you start it. It is important to keep your seashells safe. Dust and long exposure to sun can damage and lessen the color of certain seashells.
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2
Obtain plastic containers (any type) to keep your seashells in. Try stackable, screw-top storage containers for smaller shells.
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3
Consider purchasing a wooden cabinet (or similar storage piece) with a lot of drawers to keep the seashells in. Create dividers for each drawer out of pieces of wood or purchase drawers with sectionals.
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4
Visit the Classroom Direct website to purchase storage containers to start your seashell collection (see Resources below).
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5
Purchase pails or mesh bags with draw strings to use for holding your seashells as you collect them. Use screens or strainers to scoop the shells out of the sand. You can find these items at any discount or craft supply store.
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6
Determine if you want to label your shells. If you will be displaying the seashells, purchase a heavy card stock (or sticker labels) that you can write the name of the shell on and place above it.
Select Items for a Seashell Collection
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1
Explore the different types of seashells. Visit the Seashell Collector website to study a variety of seashells and get hints for collecting them (see Resources below).
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2
Think about what type of collection you want to start. You can organize it by category of shell, what is appealing to your eye, or by where you have traveled.
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3
Start collecting seashells. You can gather the shells yourself or purchase seashells through websites and dealers.
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4
Walk along the beach close to the shoreline and gather shells you like. Try and find whole shells with no cracks.
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5
Place the shells in your bag or pail. Wash off the sand before taking the shells home.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Expand your collecting skills by finding shells that lurk under the sand. Use a rake, ideally before and after low tide, to skim for shells.
Look for tracks on the sand that indicate where a shell such as nautica (a common beach shell) might be found below the surface.
