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Clam Shell

Clam Shell

Roebuck (1701)

A clam shell was recovered by the WA Museum's exploration team from Roebuck's wreck site off Ascension Island in March 2001. It was identified by natural scientist Shirley Slack-Smith as a type found only in the Indo-Pacific region.

William Dampier collected shells on the Australian coast and at Cockle and Pidgeon Islands at the north-west end of New Guinea (Irian Jaya). At Pidgeon Island he wrote:

'In the afternoon my men returned, brought 22 Pidgeons, and many Cockles, some very large, some small: They also brought one empty shell, that weigh'd 258 Pound' (c. 129kg).

A Voyage to New Holland, Williams Edition

 

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