Mermaid's Purse

Mermaid's Purse

The Mermaid's Purse is not an invertebrate at all - it is a fish egg capsule. The egg capsule of a skate or ray, to be precise. The "horns" are to secure the capsule in seaweed. You may find one with a baby skate growing inside, but most are empty. They are included here with bivalves because they are often found scattered around the bottom like shells, up to 3" long. They certainly don't look like fish!


It appears that I have unintentionally and unknowingly infringed a copyrighted image, and I am being threatened with legal action if I do not agree to their terms. After finding the accusers all over the internet, I see no other choice.

The way these guys operate is basically entrapment. It should be illegal, but instead it has been made highly profitable by insane copyright laws. They leave things lying around on the internet with no notice, and then sue anyone who picks them up. They have even sold CD-ROMs full of images and then sued the buyers for actually using the images. Apparently the terms are buried so deep no one can find them. They have destroyed businesses and livelihoods. The even sue governments.

I really cannot afford this. Covid has ruined my health and left me unable to work. I am living off my savings and praying that somehow I get better, but after two years, I have little hope. I am not one to put my sob stories online, but there it is.

Printed from njscuba.net