Heard it on the grapevine...

[PhipsFolly]

Well... don't quote me on this but I heard on the grapevine that the State of Florida is going to put some new laws on the books in reference to treasure hunting. Basically what I am hearing is that they are going to try and regulate things on a deeper level by requiring salvors get a commercial license... not that that is a big deal in and of itself, but that is probably going to only be a first step towards trying to put an end to treasure hunting as we know it.

The Fishers (among others) have been very active in approaching the legalities of treasure salvage over the years, but I think changes are coming that may require all of us to get more involved and speak our minds before we get regulated right out of what we love to do most. I haven't received anything in the mail yet, but it is my understanding that the Fishers are sending out a notice to all subcontractors in reference to a meeting that the State of Florida is going to hold in Tallahassee on June 22nd - if you are able to attend, please get there and speak your piece.

It has also come to my attention that there had been some "secret beach hunting activity" conducted during the beach renourishment project in Sebastian. A friend had taken his son down to the beach to watch tthe renourishment activities and was hoping to do some beach hunting. The workers made it clear that no one was allowed to be on the beach (understandably so because of safety and liability issues)... however, there was also something more going on. There were workers out there with screens attached to there equipment and they were catching treasure in them!! The person who relayed this story observed an 8 Reales in one of the screens and offered the worker $100 for it. The worker was well aware of what it was in the screen and told the guy that he would get in trouble for selling it to him as anything "found" was to be turned in to the State. I DO NOT KNOW THE VALIDITY OF THIS INFORMATION, BUT FELT IT WARRANTED MENTION... And with the States comment about the idea of selling the "State Treasure Collection" to help the budget crisis, this kind of "secret activity" doesn't surprise me... ahhhh, the trouble with treasure!!

May the Treasure God shine down on us all this season... see you on the bottom.

 

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[billinstuart]

was that Great Lakes Dredging? They did the St. Lucie Inlet and seem to have a monopoly on the east coast. They do what they want when they want. I guess when you're in the pocket of the corps of engineers and local "coastal engineers" (using that term loosely) you have that privilege.

 

[ScubaDude]

They did have a pretty sweet borrow area.

 

[FISHEYE]

The dredge workers know about treasure they suck up and put on the beaches,the workers arent dummies.Treasure is a bonus to them that they get to keep.They found it on the beach!I had a long talk with one of the workers where they put sand on the beaches in new smyrna beach.He didnt find any coins but a few 10 inch cannon balls came out of the dredge pipes earlier that day.he let me MD right at the output of the pipe,just as long as i stayed away from the bull dozer spreading the sand around.All i found was trash.They were sucking the sand out of the ICW near the CG station.Where ever the dredge crews are working,they all hang out in the local bars.If you want more info hang out in the bars with them.They do talk about what they find when they get drunk!

 

[bikerlawyer]

When anyone gets any details on this meeting in Tally please let me know ASAP.

The legislature is not in session now, do you have any idea who they are meeting with?

 

[bikerlawyer]

Nevermind, I guess I should have read further, Diver Lynn and Scubasalvor have the info

 

[ScubaFinder]

That "secret beach hunting activity" might very well have been me. LOL I helped out Great Lakes Dredging while they were here in Sebastian, and worked several days on their crew boat "East River". We made several runs out to their Dredge "Reggie" and I had to do an emergency 3 am dive one night. The captain of the crewboat had his metal detector with him...if that tells you anything. They were borrowing from Sandy Point and pumping to the south side of the Sebastian inlet. I was there, with detectors and the workers did have screens (to remove any hazardous trash of course). They did remove glass and anything (other than chewed up cans) that might be dangerous to bare feet, but that wasn't all they removed.

If you see a crew boat called East River, buddy up with the Captain!

Jason

 

[FISHEYE]

Theres a dredge that has been working in the st sebastian river now for the past 3 months.First they dredged the channel from the US 1 bridge,now they are up by the train bridge.From what i read on a dredgers website they are cleaning out all the silt in the entire river and pumping it inland to some pit.Dont know if they are comming near shore where the private docks are or not.its bad there,silt is 5 feet deep.I keep my boat at one of the docks,Every time i go down there i run both my engines an blow it all out down to the clay.Now at low tide i have 3 foot under my keel.The snook and blue crabs are plentyful there

 

[diverlynn]

Hey ScubaFinder,
Find anything? or should I say anything you want to tell about??

Diverlynn

 

[FISHEYE]

I think he may have found that 80lb anchor that fell off that 28 foot carver that the tow boat guy was towing for us over to sebastian marina.The anchor was attached by a rotten rope wrapped around one of the props.the tow boat guy said there was considerable drag till he made his turn to the marina,then it must have fallen off to be found by the next dredge crew.

 

[ScubaFinder]

Something about loose lips and sunken ships....can't remember exactly.

 

[RELICDUDE07]

I hope you got all of that (green glass) out of there from those old 7 up bottles, and all those dam oreo cookies .. Dang litter bugs..

 

[shpwrk1]

Folks,
Here is the meeting in Tallahassee, to see the proposed rule changes either click or copy paste the following: http://flheritage.com/archaeology/rule/

Please come to this very important meeting, your collective voices need to be heard...


Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2008 10:51:30 -0400
From: "Wheeler, Ryan J." <[email protected]>
To: "Wheeler, Ryan J." <[email protected]>


The Division of Historical Resources proposes amendments to Chapter 1A-31, Florida Administrative Code, Exploration and Salvage of Historic Shipwreck Sites. Interested parties are encouraged to attend the rule development workshop (see notice, below) or submit comments via our website at: http://flheritage.com/archaeology/rule/

The purpose of this rule is to provide guidance and information regarding issuance of permits by the division for exploration and salvage of historic shipwreck sites by commercial salvors on state-owned sovereignty submerged lands. The rule also provides guidelines for transferring objects recovered by commercial salvors under permit in exchange for recovery services provided to the state. The rule amendment is also in response to suggestions from JAPC.


Notice of Development of Rulemaking

DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Division of Historical Resources
RULE NO: RULE TITLE
1A-31.0015: Definitions
1A-31.0035: Agreements for Exploration or Salvage of Archaeological Materials
1A-31.0055: Exploration Agreements
1A-31.0065: Salvage Agreements
1A-31.010: Supervision
1A-31.011: Boats to Carry Identification
1A-31.013: Prohibited Practices; Penalties
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this rule is to provide guidance and information regarding issuance of permits by the division for exploration and salvage of historic shipwreck sites by commercial salvors on state-owned sovereignty submerged lands. The rule also provides guidelines for transferring objects recovered by commercial salvors under permit in exchange for recovery services provided to the state.
The rule amendment is also in response to suggestions from JAPC.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: This rule is to provide guidance and information regarding issuance of permits by the division for exploration and salvage of historic shipwreck sites by commercial salvors on state-owned sovereignty submerged lands. The rule also provides guidelines for transferring objects recovered by commercial salvors under permit in exchange for recovery services provided to the state.
The rule amendment is also in response to suggestions from JAPC.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 20.10(3), 267.031(1), 267.115(6), 267.13(2)(e) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 267.031(2), 267.031(5)(i),(k),(o), 267.061(1), 267.115, 267.13, 267.14 FS.

A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: June 26, 2008, 1:00 p.m.
PLACE: R. A. Gray Building , Heritage Hall, 500 S. Bronough Street , Tallahassee , FL 32399-0250

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Charlotte Wheeler (850)245-6536. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Stephen S. Mathues, (850)245-6536

Ryan J. Wheeler, Ph.D.
State Archaeologist and Chief,
Bureau of Archaeological Research

B. Calvin Jones Center for Archaeology at the Governor Martin House
1001 de Soto Park Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: 850.245.6301
FAX: 850.245.6452
E-mail: [email protected]

Please take a few minutes to provide feedback on the quality of service you received from our staff. The Florida Department of State values your feedback as a customer. Kurt Browning, Florida’s Secretary of State, is committed to continuously assessing and improving the level and quality of services provided to you. Simply click on the link to the "DOS Customer Satisfaction Survey." Thank you in advance for your participation. DOS Customer Satisfaction Survey

 

[ScubaDude]

How did they derive the one square mile maximum for reconnaissance permits?

What effect would this have on the few Archaeologists that currently work with the State(s)? Are they still viewed as qualified or not?

What is with all the stipulations on Archaeologists being trained on remote sensing gear? Are we trying to eliminate people, or not miss sites, or what exactly?

How exactly is the appropriate funding question going to be quantified? (I do have a fair amount of common sense, but how exactly is this to be determined and by whom?)