6/24/14 Report - More Land and Sea Treasures: Reale and Pad Lock & Port St. Lucie City Parks Dept. Rules On Metal Detecting,

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

Another Reale Found by the Crew of the Capitana
Photo submitted by Captain Jonah Martinez.

I've been showing some of the finds made by the crew of the Capitana which has been working the Green Cabin wreck.

Yesterday I showed a reale which as far as I could tell was an early Potosi cob.

Here is another from the same wreck site.  This one is obviously a Mexican cob.

Just looking at what I can see on this side, that is about all I can tell about it right now.   I might be able to tell more from the style of castles and lions if I spend some time in research.


As you might know, a letter was sent to the director of the City of Port St. Lucie Parks and Recreation Dept., Sherman Conrad, asking the parks people to allow metal detecting in the city parks.  You might recall that one reader of this blog had been detecting the parks for some time and then one day was told he could no longer do that.

I received a copy of the response signed by Mr. Conrad via email from one of this blog's readers.   Here it is.

To sum it up, metal detecting is allowed in the PSL parks, however, digging and/or "disturbing" grass areas is an offense.   The fines are described in the letter.


Below are a couple of nice inland finds by William M.   Thanks for the photos William!

On the Treasure Coast there has been no change in detecting conditions for quite some time.  If you are a water hunter you might appreciate the smooth surf even if it is sandy.  That probably means you are looking for recent drops though.

Happy Hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

5/27/14 Report - More On PSL Parks Rules, Action Needed, Emails and More On Returned Ring

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

Crazy Bottle Opener Find.

As you probably know by now, last week one detectorists who had been detecting the Port St. Lucie city parks for quite some time was told that he could no longer detect in one of the parks.  He was told that if he was going to remain in the park he had to put away his detector. 

After some one called to ask about it, the Assistant Director of the Department of Parks referred to two ordinances which did not refer to metal detecting but did address actions such as digging and disturbing the grounds.  

Here are the specific ordinances.

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.


Also , 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.

You can find a link to all of the city ordinances if you go back a few posts.

I hope detectorists in the city and around the state are planning to address this issue.   Freedoms are lost a little at a time.  They must be protected.  If no one takes action, Florida will lose a hobby valued by many of its residents.  the Treasure Coast will lose a lot of tourist revenue, and jobs will be lost by those working in the metal detecting and supporting businesses.  The State of Florida has one of the biggest metal retailers in the country, as well as numerous smaller ones, not to mention the treasure salvage business, museums, etc.

I am willing to collect names of those of you who wish to be added to a letter requesting that metal detecting be permitted in the St. Lucie County Parks.

This is not only important to those who live and detect in Port St. Lucie.  Other cities and governmental bodies will do the same thing.  I therefore hope that we get the support and action of detectorists everywhere, as we did when the proposed Florida Statutes were stopped a year or so ago.

If you participate in other detecting forums, let the readers of those forums know that their support and action is also needed.


I received a number of emails concerning the Port St. Lucie Parks decision to stop metal detecting.  Here is a small part of one email from Terry T. that expresses a common sentiment.

Here is what Terry said,

It is a total shame that this country has become what it is because of elected officials. The youth today will never be able to enjoy what the older, and past generation's have enjoyed. Last July 40,000 new law's went into effect. How many new law's will go into effect this year? How many new law's do we need to live under? How many new law's will the next generation have to live under? ...

 Here is a small part of an email from Joe D., who talked to Mr. Keen, Assistant Director of PSL city Parks, after hearing about the detectorist who was told that he could not detect in a PSL city park.

 I remembered a little more of my conversation with Mr. Keen that I didn't have time to write yesterday. While explaining to him how I "dig" targets, I mentioned "probe" or "probing". He said that there was no rule on probing in the ordnance....

 SW wrote the following,

...A little over a year ago I was hunting my small local park, the Park and Rec. guy pulled in, sat and watched me for about 10 min., he left and two minuets later a Sheriff pulled in, parked diagonal across several spots, ran my plates and proceeded to stair at me. It made me quite uncomfortable as I was the only one in the park. When I left he followed me the four blocks to my house, he parked 3 houses down and sat there for well over a half an hour before leaving. I have not been in any park after that. I know for a fact if you get caught in the Savannah's they will confiscate your equipment including your vehicle. I was hunting private property adjacent to the rail road tracks (with permission). A small plane buzzed me, shortly after cops were everywhere. Good thing I had a letter from the owner, and was able to contact the owner by phone. They did not ask me to leave, they told me to leave and never return. There were lots of threats, jail, taken equipment, loss of business license. They said I was in the wrong spot. I know where I was I had maps and GPS. In closing I go nowhere without permission. An old timer that said he has walked and hunted along the tracks, those days are long gone. You will be arrested just walking the tracks. Sorry, just a little angry.

There are horror stories when over zealous officials run amok, but there are also wonderful stories that show how important metal detecting is.

One of many such examples was provided by Warren D. (who goes by ROBOCOP as a tribute to his dad) and who recently searched and found a lost ring for a Chinese exchange student at FIT.

He provided this follow-up to illustrate a couple of points who was to be taken to dinner as a reward for searching for and finding the ring.
...
She told me when she lost the ring her college friends, all foreign exchange students said, Go ask that redneck over there with the metal detector maybe he can find it. I wear a straw cowboy hat on the beach, now I laughed.

I told her I was born in Brooklyn, New York. My dad was a NYC cop in Manhattan. I got my BS from FIT in 1972 and my MS from FIT in 1983 when I worked at the Space Center. I said tell your friends I have more degrees from FIT than they do. We both laughed. I told her about the old saying you can't tell a book by it's cover and it's probably been my motto going thru life. I said tell your friend's that they read me wrong and do they like to play poker?

She is a graduate student in Electrical engineering and she told me her major which I can't recall the exact technical terms but she said it is the technology they put in automobiles that senses nearby cars to have collision avoidance. I said that sounds like metal detecting. More laughs.

She was interested in the differences in my metal detectors. Why one worked better in the water than the other.

I told her about pulse induction versus VLF and multiple frequency and mineralization, etc.

Very pleasant person. A lot of misperceptions in this world. From all sides including me. At least we were able to talk ours away.


This is just one of many examples of rings and other valuables being found by detectorists, who also remove a lot of trash and even dangerous items.

Although people might judge people by appearances, detectorists are fine group of people who do a lot of good deeds but are often misjudged by those who do not participate in the hobby.

We need to educate the public and our elected officials.

Sephan, a detectorist who reads this blog, is an attorney.  He is the one that gave me the link to the city ordinances.  Here is his suggestion.

You might get a group together to do a petition to exclude metal detecting from these two provisions.

I am willing to put together a letter to send to the parks department if there are a good number of readers who will sign on to it.

Some have already called the city to indicate their support for allowing metal detecting in the parks.

If that is something you wish to do, please be organized, prepared and friendly and present your position concisely.  Remember, there are no provisions against metal detecting, even though that seems to be what is being enforced. 

I don't know how many tons of trash I've removed form parks in the past.  Also dangerous items such as knives and brass knuckles. 


On the Treasure Coast beach detecting conditions remain unchanged, but there is no question that gold will be found after the busy holiday weekend.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net
 

5/25/14 - Ring Found, Fishers Detecting Silver Bars at Five Feet, New Snorkel Mask and More on PSL Regulations

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

5/23/14 Report - PSL Parks Halts Metal Detecting - Will You Let Our Hobby Be Banned

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

14K Ring Find
Mentioned
Yesterday.

Yesterday I talked about tracking down gold.  Here is the ring that I mentioned being found after following a path of older worn and crusted clad coins.


If we are not careful, metal detecting will not exist as a hobby in the future.  It seems it is always under attack somewhere.  Without a concerted effort by all involved, it will go extinct.

I understand that Brad Keen, Assistant Director of the City of Port St. Lucie Parks and Recreation, recently sent out an email to city park personnel indicating that metal detecting is no longer permitted in any area of the city parks.

One detectorists has been detecting the PSL city parks regularly for some time and is well known to many park personnel but Thursday was suddenly told that he could no longer metal detect in the city parks.  He was allowed to stay but was not allowed to detect.  It seems that there is either a new ordnance or they just decided to start enforcing an old ordnance.

I can not imagine why the city parks would not allow the recreational activity of metal detecting.  It can't be a safety issue because the parks not only allow but provide expensive facilities specifically for much more active and dangerous recreational activities.  Detecting is a favorite recreational activity of many law-abiding mature members of the community who provide many, perhaps unrecognized, benefits by their presence in the parks.

I hope that the city will learn more about metal detecting and the hobbyist who practice it and reevaluate their recent decision. 

Let them know what you think and how important this is to you.  Our governments need to be educated about the extent of the hobby and its many benefits to the "Treasure Coast" area and the state of Florida.   Always be kind, considerate and present and excellent image, if not for yourself, for the hobby.

If the treasure hunting/metal detecting groups can't come together, we'll be watching as our hobby disappears.

While looking into this a little, I ran across crime statistics for the PSL City Parks.  It isn't real up to date, but just a few of the parks were responsible for the majority of incidents.  (See chart.)  Always be aware of your surroundings while detecting.

You might remember the murder that occurred at Sportsman's Park back in 2012.

The last time I was at the beach I noticed broken auto glass on the ground.  Could have been a break in.  I haven't talked about that problem for a while, but as always, be careful.
























Here is an article about a pre Inca site in Peru.

http://www.peruviantimes.com/20/authorities-find-pre-inca-site-in-northern-piura-region/22181/

On the Treasure Coast we're going to have a few days one foot surf.  That will make water hunting easy.   Beach conditions will remain poor during that time.  Still, with the holiday and nice weather there will be some new losses on the beaches.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net