Treasure on the First Dig

As usual for Christmas morning, Rabbit and I were up early–ready to start opening presents. After Daddy and Mama each had at least one cup of coffee, we finally got started. Rabbit and I opened a gift from Colin and Louise. Over the past few years, we have become friends with Colin via email. He happens to live in Falmouth, where Sila is now, so we have spent a fair bit of time with him and his wife, Louise. They gave Rabbit and me the book, The Essential Guide to Beachcombing and the Strandline by Steve Trewhella and Julie Hatcher. After opening the rest of the presents, I disappeared behind the book. It is a guide to identifying  seaweed, shells, bones, stones, and any other thing you are likely to find on a beach. The detail in it is incredible.

It is our tradition on Sila to go for either a walk or a swim after opening presents and eating breakfast.  As the water is freezing, we chose to go for a walk. About one-third of our walk was on the beach. I was eager to find any of the treasures the beach-combing book had described. Miraculously, I found a mermaid's purse. 

This is the mermaid's purse next to a quarter, to give you a sense of its size

From the book, I learned all sorts of interesting facts about mermaid's purses. Some sharks and rays lay eggs in little pouches that drift for a year before the eggs inside hatch and the babies, called pups, work their way out. Mermaid's purses are the empty pouches that are necessarily made of a material that can take the beatings of wind and waves at the surface of the ocean. The elements would easily destroy the eggs if not for the protective nature of the pouch. The tough material also fights off bacteria, algae, and predators. If the wrong type of bacteria or algae makes its way to the interior of the case, the developing sharks and rays die. Trewhella and Hatcher note in the book that a man-made material with the same qualities: antibacterial, tough, smooth to touch, and yet flexible, has boundless potential. It could be used for making diving equipment, bandages, or for protecting leftover food. Thus far, scientists have struggled in vain to find a way of making a similar material. Using natural purses is not reasonable, due to their rarity and small size. The purse that I found was from a spotted ray. They are the most common and smallest of the mermaid's purses. Even so, I think I will keep it for a long time to come. Thanks to Colin and Louise for the terrific present and to the authors, Trewhella and Hatcher for writing such an interesting book. –Porter