be gently nudged loose with tweezers. Submerged sandbars are good
spots to find several kinds of univalves and bivalves, but the
latter will dig themselves quickly out of sight--as far down as
several feet. When you see one going underground, don't dig directly
over it--you might break its shell. Instead, dig to one side, and
break the mud or sand away with your hands.

After you've had a good day's haul and a rest (you'll need one)
you must clean your shells. Put your tiniest, most fragile ones
in rubbing alcohol. Put the rest in a pot of fresh water and slowly
bring it to a boil. Let them cool in the water slowly to prevent
the glossy shells from cracking. When cool, your bivalves will be
gaping open; simply scrape them clean. Your univalves will be
more difficult; remove the animal with a crocket hook or other
piece of bent wire, turning it gently with the spiral; try to get
it out whole to save yourself trouble. Save the univalve's operculum
and slice it off the muscle that holds it. It will preserve
indefinitely and is a valuable part of the shell.

Clean the shell's exterior by scraping it gently with a dull knife
or nail file, then soaking it in a Clorox solution (1 cup to 2
quarts water) for two hours. Some will be covered with an ugly
skin--scientists keep this intact and you should try to. The best
collection has two of each species--one with and one without the
epidermis.

After your clean shells have dried (in shade, not sun), go over
them with a rag dampened in light oil. This insures preservation
and restores their natural luster. Every three months or so, rub
them with oil again--their most delicate colors will remain