I have a few "most memorable" finds, but the one I find myself reflecting back on more often that any other is the first cowshark tooth I ever found.  I had found some small pieces of cowsharks along the beach, and even a complete crown, but no complete ones.  It was early Spring of 1996 and I was at the beach as usual one morning.  I walked the full stretch of beach and found the usual assortment of other small stuff and was on my way walking back as the tide was slowly coming back in.  If your familiar with the collecting areas and landscape along Calvert Cliffs, then you're familiar with the large clay boulders that litter the beach, especially after a big fall/collapse.  Out in front of one of these falls were two clay boulders each bigger and taller than a VW bug.  On this particular day of collecting, as I walked past these boulders for a second time, a wave ran up the beach and uncovered my first complete lower cowshark (7-gill).  To top it off, it was a male with a very large main cone.  I can't tell you how many times I opened my riker mount to pick that tooth back up and admire it.  It now sits prominently displayed in my first riker mount full of cowshark teeth.  I never dreamed that years later I would have a few hundred cowshark teeth.  I have found nicer looking specimens since then, but this first has my fondest memory.

By the way BMF, I know all too well that clay you're talking about.  It's the main reason I wear nothing but felt bottom waders now.  I just heped a guy up off his butt a few weeks ago after he tried to keep up with me as I walked across that stuff.  He was wearing shorts and sneakers and was much cooler than me and my hip waders, but I went home dry and without any jellyfish stings!

Daryl.