Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.
Before I really get started today, the lost ring in Ft. Lauderdale that I mentioned yesterday was found by a detectorist. Thanks guys. That is one more example of how detectorists benefit the public.
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The Fisher organization has been testing a detector coil attached to Dolores, the remotely controlled underwater vehicle. In tests the EM coil detected a test silver bar easily at 1.5 feet and could easily detect a silver bar at five feet.
They say their traditional hand-held detectors were only able to detect a silver bar about 24 inches beneath sand and mud. Of course a magnetometer would not detect silver at all, so this is a big improvement.
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As I expected, the action on the part of one PSL parks worker to stop one detectorist has sparked considerable outrage. I'm hoping, though, that we all understand that we are in the winning position, not only for ourselves but for society in general, and that all we need to do is educate to inspire the more rational motives of our public servants.
In doing my updates yesterday I might have deleted an important part of the original email that I received from Stephan. Here it is.
...The detecting community
better take action. Polite, respectful, and intelligent
explanations of our
hobby are what will work the best. No diatribes or
anger. People are more
willing to listen to reasoned arguments from
respected members of the
community, so the more info given about your
profession, background, how
you've helped people find lost objects, and
copies of such stories from the
local papers, the more likely you will
be listened to.
At this point, I am recommending a
brief cool-off period for reflection, followed by detectorists coming together for a concerted education effort. I hope detectorists will come together like they did a couple of years ago to stop a proposed Florida statute. I will be happy to use this blog for communication for any person, group or forum that wants to head up this effort. This is not only a Port St. Lucie issue. I have received emails from different areas of Florida where the issues are the same.
I underlined a few important phrases in Stephans email for emphasis.
The concern about detectorists digging is a common one that you will run into. It is based upon the misconception that detectorists go around digging large holes. People do not seem to realize that coins are detected only a few inches deep and that digging is not the preferred recovery technique, especially when detecting in lawns or parks.
Probing is the preferred technique for those types of environments. I, for one, use a screw driver, and rather than digging, I probe and plug, or simply pop the coin out of the earth.
I always have maintained that it is best to maintain a very low profile when detecting. Shovels are not a good choice, and I don't know any detectorist that would use one in a park. Don't use anything larger or more obvious than is necessary. People will draw the wrong conclusion.
I don't dig in the water either. I simply fan or scoop and sift.
If you don't dig, you are not likely to be in violation of any such regulations any more than children playing in the sand with their sand shovels or a baseball batter who picks up dirt and rubs it on his bat (if they still do that now that bats aren't made of wood). You get my point.
The city ordinances say,
(c) No person shall dig or remove any sand, whether submerged or not, or any soil, rock, stones, trees, shrubs, or plants, down timber or other wood or materials, or make any excavation by tool, equipment, blasting, or other means or agency.
Someone walking in the park better not get sand or dirt on his shoes and track it into their car or truck and take it home. That would certainly be "removing." That phrase must mean "removing" from the park rather than simply "moving." Heaven knows, my car floor shows that that happens simply from walking. I have to clean it out almost every time I go to the beach.
Blasting!?
I don't want to sound ridiculous here, I just want to make it clear that there is always room for interpretation - and good judgment too!.
Also the PSL ordinances say,
No person shall dig in or otherwise disturb grass areas, nor in any way injure or impair the natural beauty or usefulness of any area.
I've already addressed digging, but when it comes to "disturbing" does walking on grass disturb the grass? I'm sure that someone could make that case convincingly. I'm sure that walking can contribute to killing the grass. Otherwise, why do we have walks, they might argue. Prairie dogs, as well as earth worms, aerate the earth and make it easier for plants to grow. So is it harmful to loosen the earth? I say not. Then it is not disturbing, but rather enhancing.
Again, I'm not trying to be cute or ridiculous - just point out that a reasonable interpretation of the regulations is in order. Some seem to think that detectorists dig big holes like dogs or kids. Actually, for a detectorist, the less digging they have to do the better they like it.
If these are indeed the ordinances being enforced, the detectorist that was not allowed to keep his detector with him should have been allowed to stay in the park with his detector as long as he did not "dig" or otherwise "disturb" grass areas or injure or impair the natural beauty of the park. Dig or disturb seem to be two key words.
As we begin this Memorial Day holiday and remember the great sacrifices of our veterans, it is a good time to think about our freedoms and the need to continually protect them.
Hitler started small, and you know where that went.
I spent a few hours Saturday watching WWII on the history channel. Amazing and thought provoking. Horrendous and unimaginable, yet real.
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Here is a new type of snorkel mask. I'll probably have one of these before long.
Check it out.
http://www.hashslush.com/easybreath-snorkeling-mask/
I hope swimming doesn't displace or disturb the water. Sorry, couldn't resist.
There is no change in beach conditions on the Treasure Coast today. Still a very small surf.
Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net
