5/6/18 Report - Beach Renourishment: The Danger and Problems. Plimsoll Marks. Ring Stretcher.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.

The live bidding starts on May 15, 10 AM

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Here is part of an interesting article sent to me by Will B.

“We are not saying nourished beaches are more dangerous but there does seem to be some link between beach projects and increased risks, so we need to study this further,” said Brian Haus, a professor of ocean science at the University of Miami, and one of the authors.

At stake: Billions of dollars in beach-buffing funds, not to mention the tourist dollars attracted to Florida’s golden coast....

The authors’ research shows that, in Ocean City, Md., for example, numbers from the U.S. Lifesaving Association show the number of serious medical accidents on the beach increased three times over between the summers of 2006 and 2007, after a project widened the beach there.

Closer to home, data collected by the Brevard County Ocean Rescue shows the number of rip-current and preventative rescues increased about by about a quarter in the two years after a beach widening project, compared with the number of those rescues during the two years before.

I don't like the beach renourishment projects, which seem to be the rage these days.  Heaven forbid that a tourist see a natural beach.  I know it is too late for that in many cases, with hotels, sea walls, groins etc.

The money spent on these projects has to be loved by who increase their power and influence and throw big bundles of tax payer money around to their friends or whoever they choose, but the there are a lot of things to dislike about beach renourishment, especially at locations where it is done every year or more frequently.

One of the things I dislike most is the ugliness, noise and long period of time when beach access is restricted.   People can't get to the beach for all the barriers, huge rusty pipes and noisy tractors.   I can't imagine that people are attracted to a beach like that, or go away with a favorable impression. And it isn't for just a day or two, it takes weeks or months in many cases.  And for some strange reason, there are times they do it at the peak of tourist season or the when people most want to be there.

Another thing I don't like about it is how it erodes so quickly after the project.  It doesn't last.  Large steep drops are often created that make it difficult for people to get to the water.  Turtles lay their eggs in the renourishment sand and then the eggs get washed out.   

The quality of sand is important.  Of the projects conducted at Fort Pierce Jetty South in recent years, one dumped tons of garbage on the beach.  It looked more like a landfill.  One dumped large stones, which could easily turn an ankle.  And one dumped fine sand that destroyed visibility in the nearby water and undoubtedly also affected fish, vegetation and other wildlife.

Concerning the dangers created, beyond those I've already mentioned, the unnatural placement of sand deflects wave energy and creates potentially dangerous currents.  That is one reason why the renourishment sand won't stay put.  The more sand that is dumped where it won't stay, the quicker it will be removed by nature.

Here is the link for the rest of the article.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-reg-beach-erosion-complications-20180504-story.html

Thanks for the link Will.

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Yesterday  I mentioned how some authors publish whatever they can glean from other sources.  That has always been done, but the more honest authors make an effort to credit the sources of their ideas.  Metal detecting books are one thing, but it seems even academics are doing the same thing these days.

I heard the author of Living in a Mindful Universe doing a radio interview Saturday morning.  He talked about a filter theory of mind as if it was a new theory that he produced.  I immediately recognized the theory as identical to one proposed by William James and published in 1898 in a book entitled Human Immortality.  Ideally William James should have been credited as the source of the theory.  Maybe he wasn't aware of James' theory, but any serious researcher should have been, and I have to believe he was.  I can overlook the omission in a radio interview where you don't have much time and can't say everything you want to or need to, but not in the published book.

I know people don't care.  They'll rip off other people's intellectual property or do whatever they can to promote themselves or find a little fame.

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I once found what I believed to be a part of a lead bow depth-marker on the Treasure Coast.  I'm not sure that is what it is though.

Sebastian Steve offered these remarks on plimsoll marks.

The PLIMSOLL MARKS... are often written in Roman Numerals on the bow of a ship to show the "load line." These Plimsoll Marks are required by law. I have seen them on shipwreck bows underwater dating from the 1880s. They were often carved into the stem of the ship and then the indentations painted with white lead paint that evidently was quite durable!

Steve also mentioned how he used a ring stretcher/sizer. If you didn't know you could stretch or size some rings, look it up. Seems like it could be handy.

Thanks Steve.

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The tides are pretty flat now, and we won't see a surf higher than three feet on the Treasure Coast next week.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

12/21/14 Report - A First Gold Ring Find For One Detectorist. Blog Poll Results Summary.

Written by the treasureguide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.BlogSpot.com.

First Gold Ring Found By Dan B.
Photo by Dan B.

Concerning this Masonic gold ring, here is what Dan B. said.  As soon as I did my tests and started pulling tabs out of the ground, I found my first gold ring. Masonic at that! Funny thing was, the back is separated like a kids you ring, due to a previous repair. So I was thrilled to feel some weight.

Did you notice that he said he was digging tabs?

That is a unique ring for a Mason's ring - not one of the standard off-the-shelf varieties.

Great find Dan!  Congratulations on your first!

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The most recent blog poll has concluded and the results are in.  Nearly half of the respondents (47%) indicated that the primary reason they detect is simply because it is fun.  They enjoy it.  What more can you say?  I won't try to break it down to all of the elements that make it fun, but you never know what you might find.  There is always the element of possible surprise and discovery.  And it is nice just being out there on the beach or wherever.

Nearly as many (42%) indicated that uncovering or touching a piece of the past is their biggest reason for detecting.  I suspect that that number is so high because this blog is very much about the Treasure Coast where we have a lot of interesting history and that is what a lot of people shoot for here. 

The third biggest reason selected by this blog's readers is financial.  It was the third highest response but still only 5% selected improving their financial situation as the "biggest" reason for detecting.  Again, that number would probably be higher if the focus of this blog was not the Treasure Coast. 

Something valuable can always pop up and some people make that their primary objective and become quite good at it.  Beach detecting on the Treasure Coast is not the easiest place to be successful if you want to make a living from metal detecting even though it is one of the better places if you have a salvage lease, but it is still not easy. 

There was a time when I hunted to maximize financial gain.  I lived down South then and kept track of how I was doing.  I was between jobs for six months one time and during that time proved to myself that I could make a living at detecting if I had to.  It is not easy, and for me trying to maximize the dollar value took a lot of the fun out of detecting.  I like detecting more for fun rather than doing it as a profession, but if you need or want to and are willing to work really hard, it is possible if you are good at it.  Now I do it more as a hobby and have the freedom to do it at leisure.  I don't have to go for the maximum value in finds and can hunt the things and way that I like, even if it isn't the most profitable. 

The next most frequently selected response (selected by 2% of the sample)  was "intellectual curiosity."  Some people like to figure things out, solve problems and learn.  Of course that can be coupled with some of the other objectives, but it is the primary motivation for some.

Both "social enjoyment" and "helping others" was each selected by one person as the biggest reason they like detecting.  I'd bet that the person who selected "helping others" has enjoyed returning some nice finds to those that lost them.

Well, maybe you found it hard to select one answer out of all the alternatives, but over a hundred people managed to do so.   Here is what Robert H. said is his biggest motivation.  The next best or rare find. I'm really driven to find Spanish treasure. Big catches would be amazing also. So I guess there's lots to it and hard to just name one thing.

I'm sure a lot of us are out there hoping for that rare or big find and never know when it might happen.  I'm sure the suspense of it all is something that adds a lot to the hobby for all of us.  You never know what exciting thing might pop up or when it might happen.  Maybe it will be today or tomorrow, but if you keep at it long enough I'm sure you'll hit something that surprises and excites you.

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I hurt my back yesterday morning trying to recover a big heavy item.  I could barely move at all yesterday but am quickly getting better.  I wanted to remind you to be careful.  Various kinds of injuries can occur while detecting.  I've had a variety myself over the years.

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On the Treasure Coast we're not expecting around a two-foot surf for a few days yet.  We are finally getting some negative tides though.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net