Ferguson's Shells

Announcer: VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Huell Howser: HELLO, EVERYBODY.

I'M HUELL HOWSER, AND HERE WE ARE ON FRIES AVENUE IN THE COMMUNITY OF WILMINGTON, DOWN HERE IN THE L.A. HARBOR AREA.

IN FACT, WILMINGTON IS KNOWN AS THE HEART OF THE HARBOR.

NOW WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE HARBOR, YOU THINK ABOUT WATER, AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WATER, YOU THINK ABOUT SEASHELLS, AND DOWN HERE IN WILMINGTON, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SEASHELLS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FERGUSON'S SEASHELLS.

ESTABLISHED BACK IN 1945, IT'S A FAMILY BUSINESS, AND WHEN YOU GO INSIDE THIS STORE, YOU ARE LITERALLY GOING BACK IN TIME.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE, AND THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE SPENDING THE WHOLE MORNING, INSIDE FERGUSON'S SEASHELLS.

LOOK AT THE SHELLS.

THOUSANDS OF SHELLS, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SHELLS, AND THE OWNERS OF FERGUSON'S SEASHELLS.

RALPH, WE HAVEN'T MET BEFORE.

WE'VE TALKED ON THE PHONE.

YOUR DAUGHTER LUPE--I HAVE DEFINITELY TALKED WITH YOU, AND YOU'VE KIND OF GIVEN ME THE TOUR.

I CAME BY HERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, POKING AROUND.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED WITH THIS?

WE'VE GOT A LOT TO COVER IN 30 MINUTES.

WE FIRST NEED TO START WITH YOUR HISTORY OF SHELLS, 'CAUSE YOU--YOU GO WAY BACK WITH SHELLS, DON'T YOU?

Ralph: I STARTED AS A SHELL COLLECTOR IN 1945 WHEN I MOVED TO EUREKA, CALIFORNIA, AND I COLLECTED UP THERE AND THE CHURCH MADE ME SELL THEM SOME THINGS AND... Huell: WHAT?

CHURCH?

Ralph: THE CHURCH, YEAH.

Huell: YOU WERE SELLING SHELLS TO A CHURCH?

Ralph: FOR A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS.

Huell: I GOTCHA.

Ralph: AND I FOUND IT WAS A GOOD THING TO DO, AND THEN I WAS IN THE NAVY.

I JOINED THE NAVY TO GO AROUND THE WORLD AND COLLECT SEASHELLS, AND I NEVER LEFT SAN DIEGO.

Huell: HA HA!

SO YOU'VE LIKED SHELLS FROM THE EARLIEST DAYS.

Ralph: YES.

AND THEN I WAS ON THE BEACH SO MUCH, A MAN IN SAN DIEGO ASKED ME IF I WOULD GET HIM STARFISH, AND I GOT HIM STARFISH AND THAT WAS MY ONLY BUSINESS FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

Huell: STARFISH.

Ralph: STARFISH.

Huell: WELL, OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE BRANCHED OUT A LOT NOW.

HOW MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF SHELLS DO YOU HAVE HERE IN THIS STORE ALONE?

Ralph: PROBABLY 50,000.

YEAH.

A LOT OF VERY SMALL COLLECTOR'S SHELLS.

BUT IN COMMERCIAL SHELLS, WE HAVE 20,000.

Huell: SO YOU REALLY STARTED SOMETHING WITH THOSE STARFISH, DIDN'T YOU?

IT JUST GREW OUT OF CONTROL.

Ralph: YES.

Huell: HAS IT BEEN A PRETTY GOOD LIVING FOR YOU?

Ralph: IT'S BEEN A GOOD LIVING FOR ME AND ALL THE EMPLOYEES.

I THINK SOMETIMES THE EMPLOYEES MAKE A BETTER LIVING THAN I DO, BUT THEY'RE LIVING ANYWAY.

Huell: AND WHAT ABOUT YOU, LUPE?

YOU'VE KIND OF BEEN IN THIS YOUR WHOLE LIFE, TOO.

Lupe: I SURE HAVE.

Huell: WAS IT SOMETHING THAT YOU HAD TO DO, STARTING AS A LITTLE GIRL WORKING HERE IN YOUR DAD'S SHOP?

Lupe: A LITTLE THAT AND A LITTLE THAT I LIKE SHELLS.

I'VE ALWAYS COLLECTED SHELLS SINCE I WAS SMALL.

Huell: YEAH.

SO YOU'VE GOT IT IN YOUR BLOOD, TOO.

Lupe: I SURE DO.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT KIND OF SHELLS, BUT THIS ONE--YOU HAD THIS OUT ON THE COUNTER AND THIS CAUGHT MY EYE RIGHT AWAY.

WHAT KIND OF SHELL IS THIS, RALPH?

Ralph: THAT'S A SCORPION SHELL, A SPIDER.

BIG SPIDER.

Huell: AND WHERE IS THIS FROM?

Ralph: FROM TANZANIA.

Huell: SO IS THIS A RARE...?

Ralph: NO, IT'S KEPT IN GOOD CONDITION, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY RARE.

Huell: SO YOU'VE GOT A PRICE TAG ON IT OF 12 BUCKS.

IS THAT A GOOD--IS THAT A HIGH-PRICE SHELL OR AN AVERAGE-PRICED SHELL OR...?

Ralph: NO, THAT'S A PRETTY HIGH-PRICED SHELL.

Huell: YEAH, THAT'S OUT OF MY LEAGUE.

I'M PBS.

I NEED A CHEAPER SHELL.

WHAT ABOUT-- Lupe: HA HA!

Huell: I'M NOT KIDDING YOU.

WHAT ABOUT THIS ONE RIGHT HERE?

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL SHELL, AND WHEN THE LIGHT SHINES ON IT, YOU CAN ALMOST SEE ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT.

IT'S VERY THIN.

Ralph: TRANSLUCENT, YES.

Huell: WHAT KIND OF SHELL IS THIS?

Ralph: THIS IS A TUN SHELL.

THEY COME IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT COUNTRIES--SEVERAL DIFFERENT COLORS.

AND-- Huell: AND WHERE IS THIS FROM?

Ralph: THIS IS FROM THE PHILIPPINES.

Huell: SO YOU GET THESE THINGS SHIPPED IN HERE, LITERALLY, FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

Ralph: YES.

Huell: WELL, ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA TAKE THE TOUR.

LUPE, YOU'RE GONNA GIVE ME A TOUR HERE FOR A MINUTE.

WE'RE GONNA WALK AROUND BECAUSE, BOY, THIS IS JUST--THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF WHAT THERE IS TO SEE WHEN YOU GET INSIDE THIS STORE AND START NOSING AROUND.

IN FACT, YOU COULD GET LOST AMONGST THE SHELLS INSIDE FERGUSON'S.

OK, LUPE, WE'RE STARTING THE TOUR WITH SOME HISTORIC MUSSELS THAT DEAL DIRECTLY WITH YOUR DAD'S DINNER.

Lupe: RIGHT, THEY SURE DO.

HE ATE THESE AT A RESTAURANT AND BROUGHT THE SHELLS AND WASHED THEM AND SAVED THEM AND NOW THEY'RE FOR SALE.

Huell: SO EVERYTHING'S FOR SALE HERE AT FERGUSON'S.

ALL RIGHT, LOOK.

NOW WAIT A MINUTE, MUSSELS--THIS ISN'T A BIG DEAL.

YOU GET MUSSEL SHELLS ON YOUR PLATE ALL THE TIME.

WHO WOULD WANT MUSSEL SHELLS?

Lupe: WE SOLD A FEW HUNDRED POUNDS OF MUSSEL SHELLS FOR A MOVIE RECENTLY, ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, 7 MONTHS AGO.

Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, FOR A MOVIE?

Lupe: THEY NEEDED THEM TO MAKE A REEF OR SOMETHING OUT OF THEM TO FILM A PORTION OF A MOVIE.

Huell: SO YOU DO A LOT OF MOVIE SALES.

Lupe: OH, YES, WE SURE DO.

Huell: AND YOU DO SALES BY BULK, BECAUSE ALL OF THESE SHELLS THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT OVER HERE, YOU SAID THAT YOU SELL THESE BY THE HUNDREDS OR BY THE THOUSANDS A POUND.

Lupe: YES, WE SURE DO.

Huell: WHAT DO PEOPLE DO WITH THIS MANY SHELLS?

Lupe: PEOPLE--A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MAKING CANDLES NOWADAYS, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKING MIRRORS, WREATHS, A LOT OF CRAFTS, WEDDINGS, FOR EVERYTHING.

Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.

WHAT'S THIS?

Lupe: THAT'S MOTHER OF PEARL THAT THEY USE TO MAKE JEWELRY, AND WE ALSO SELL IT WHERE IT'S POLISHED ALL THE WAY DOWN.

YOU'LL SEE IT OVER THERE.

THE, UH, IN POLYNESIAN DANCING... Huell: UH-HUH.

Lupe: YOU SEE THEM ON THEIR HEADDRESSES, ON THEIR WAIST.

THEY'RE GETTING REALLY, REALLY POPULAR WITH THE HAWAIIAN PEOPLE AND THE POLYNESIAN DANCERS.

Huell: BEACH GLASS--$8.00 A POUND.

Lupe: PEOPLE LOVE THIS STUFF.

Huell: NOW WHERE DOES THIS COME FROM?

Lupe: IT'S GLASS, IT WAS IN THE OCEAN, AND IT HAS BEEN BEATEN UP AGAINST THE ROCKS IN THE WAVES, SO YOU CAN'T CUT YOURSELF WITH IT.

IT'S JUST BOTTLES THAT HAVE BROKEN UP AND BEEN IN THE OCEAN WHO KNOWS FOR HOW LONG.

Huell: YOUR DAD'S GONE TO GET SOMETHING.

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT THERE, RALPH?

Ralph: IT'S A POLISHED MOTHER OF PEARL.

Huell: OH, BOY.

Lupe: SEE?

Huell: LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE HERE.

Lupe: THIS IS THE NATURAL AND THIS IS POLISHED, AND THIS IS WHAT THEY USE TO MAKE THEIR HEADDRESSES AND THEIR BELTS AT THE NEW YEAR'S ROSE PARADE.

HAWAIIAN DANCERS--THEY HAD THESE ALL ON--ALL THE DANCERS HAD THEM ON THEIR HEADS.

Huell: BOY, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL, AND THIS ONE PIECE HERE IS $50.

Lupe: YES, IT SURE IS.

Huell: SO THESE THINGS REALLY DO GO FOR A GOOD PRICE.

WHEN YOU FIND A GOOD SHELL, YOU CAN ASK GOOD MONEY FOR IT AND PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT.

Lupe: ESPECIALLY IF, LIKE MY DAD, HE KNOWS THE HISTORY OF THE SHELL, WHERE IT CAME FROM.

A LOT OF SHELLS THAT HE HAS, THAT HE'S BOUGHT OVER THE YEARS OR COLLECTED, IT HAS THE WHOLE DATA--WHEN IT WAS COLLECTED, WHERE IT WAS COLLECTED, ALL THAT.

Huell: NOW WE'RE GETTING OVER TO THE AREA THAT STARTED IT ALL-- THE STARFISH AREA.

THE KNOBBY STARFISH, JUNGLE STARFISH, WEBBED STARFISH, SUGAR--IS THIS A SUGAR STARFISH?

THIS IS WHAT GOT YOU STARTED, RALPH.

Ralph: THIS KIND OF STARFISH, TOO, FROM THE WEST COAST HERE.

Huell: SO THIS IS OUR CALIFORNIA STARFISH.

THIS IS WHAT YOU WERE COLLECTING OFF THE BEACH.

Ralph: YES.

Huell: ARE STARFISH STILL POPULAR?

Lupe: THEY SURE ARE.

IT'S ONE OF OUR NUMBER-ONE BEST-SELLERS.

Huell: WHY DO PEOPLE LOVE STARFISH?

Lupe: THEY MAKE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS OUT OF THEM.

THEY HANG THEM IN THEIR PATIOS OR THEIR FISHNETS FOR DECORATION AND FOR SCHOOLS AND EVERYTHING 'CAUSE THEY HAVE A GOOD HISTORY WITH THEM.

Huell: THEY STILL GOT A SMELL TO THEM, TOO.

Ralph: THE BIGGER ONES, YES.

Huell: YEAH.

AND LOOK AT ALL THESE DOWN HERE.

THESE ARE--WAIT A MINUTE.

WHERE DID THAT ONE COME FROM?

THIS ONE IS BROWN.

Lupe: IT'S THE PROCESSING FACTOR THAT MAKES THEM CERTAIN--THIS ONE LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN IN THE SUN TOO LONG.

Huell: UH-HUH.

SO DO YOU GET THESE THINGS FRESH OUT OF THE OCEAN OR DO YOU GET THEM ALREADY DRIED AND PREPARED?

Lupe: WE USED TO GET THEM FRESH OUT OF THE OCEAN.

I REMEMBER MY DAD USED TO TAKE US DOWN, WAY DOWN AND CARRY BUSHEL BASKETS ON HIS BACK WITH HIM.

BUT NOW, WE GET THEM ALREADY PREPARED.

Huell: AND THESE ARE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AS WELL.

Ralph: NO, THESE ARE CALIFORNIA STARFISH.

Huell: THESE ARE ALL CALIFORNIA?

EVEN THESE LITTLE-- Ralph: NO, THEY'RE FROM... Huell: WHERE ARE THESE FROM?

Ralph: PHILIPPINES.

Huell: LOOK AT THESE.

LITTLE PACIFIC STARFISH.

AND HERE'S SOME THAT ARE... ARE THESE BABY STARFISH?

Ralph: YES, THOSE ARE... Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

THEY'RE TEENY.

WE FOUND THE MOST EXPENSIVE SHELL IN THE STORE, AND, RALPH, THIS LOOKS LIKE A NICE SHELL, BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYTHING THAT'S GONNA SET THE WORLD ON FIRE.

WHAT'S THE DEAL ON THIS SHELL?

Ralph: IT'S NOT THE PRETTIEST SHELL, BUT IT'S ONE OF THE RAREST.

CYPRAEA VALENTIA.

Huell: FROM?

Ralph: PHILIPPINES.

Huell: AND HOW MUCH IS THIS SHELL WORTH?

Ralph: PRICED AT $800.

Huell: 8?

NOW DO YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN HERE WILLING TO SPEND $800 ON ONE SHELL?

Lupe: YES, WE DO.

ON 2 AND 3 SOMETIMES.

Huell: SO WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE THESE PEOPLE BESIDES BEING RICH PEOPLE?

Lupe: SHELL COLLECTORS.

PEOPLE WHO REALLY, REALLY COLLECT SHELLS WITH A PASSION.

Huell: SO THEY WOULD SEE THIS AND GO CRAZY.

Lupe: YES.

Huell: I'M GONNA CAREFULLY HAND THIS BACK TO YOU BECAUSE WE'VE STOOD OVER HERE BECAUSE WHEN MY FAMILY AND I USED TO GO TO FLORIDA ON VACATIONS YEARS AGO, WE USED TO GET THESE CONK SHELLS OFF THE BEACH, PUT THEM UP TO OUR EARS, AND HEAR THE OCEAN.

BUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

Ralph: THESE ARE CONK SHELLS.

Huell: WHAT'S THIS?

Ralph: THAT'S A HELMET SHELL FROM THE SOUTH PACIFIC.

Huell: HA!

BUT WAIT A MINUTE.

SO THIS ISN'T WHAT I PICKED UP IN FLORIDA.

Ralph: NO, THESE ARE THE ONES YOU PICKED UP... Huell: THIS IS WHAT I PICKED UP IN FLORIDA.

SEE, TO THE AVERAGE PERSON, THESE SHELLS ALL BEGIN TO KIND OF LOOK ALIKE.

BUT THIS IS A CONK SHELL.

Ralph: YES, SIR.

Huell: I CAN STILL HEAR THE OCEAN, BUT SHE TOLD ME THAT YOU CAN'T GET THESE SHELLS IN FLORIDA ANYMORE.

Ralph: NO, THEY DON'T LET THEM TAKE THEM AND YOU WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING THEM ANYWAY.

THEY'RE JUST NOT AVAILABLE.

Huell: OK, WE'RE PUTTING RALPH TO WORK.

WHAT'S YOUR DAD DOING BACK HERE, LUPE?

Lupe: HE'S PUTTING ALL OF OUR SMALL SHELLS THAT WE SELL IN BULK IN ONE-POUND BAGS.

CUSTOMERS COME OUT HERE AND PICK WHATEVER THEY LIKE.

ONE POUND, 5 POUNDS, 10 POUNDS.

AND THAT'S WHAT MY DAD DOES ALL DAY LONG, PUT ALL OUR DIFFERENT SHELLS IN ONE-POUND BAGS.

Huell: AND LOOK, YOU'VE GOT A WHOLE SETUP BACK HERE.

Lupe: WE SURE DO.

Huell: THESE ARE ALL THE SHELLS THAT YOU SELL BY BULK BACK HERE.

Lupe: AND ON THIS SIDE IS OUR UNIVALVES.

ON THE OTHER SIDE IS OUR BIVALVES.

Huell: WHAT?

Lupe: UNIVALVES IS ONE SHELL.

BIVALVES IS A SHELL THAT HAS 2 PIECES TO IT, WHICH IS OUR CLAM-TYPE SHELLS.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS-- BOY, THESE ARE PRETTY.

LOOK AT THESE.

WHAT ARE THESE DOWN HERE?

Lupe: IT'S A DARK FIGHTING CONCH.

WHERE ARE THEY FROM, DAD?

Ralph: EAST COAST OF MEXICO.

Huell: EAST COAST OF MEXICO.

BOY, HE KNOWS HIS SHELLS.

Lupe: HE SURE DOES.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, LET'S WALK BACK HERE BECAUSE THIS JUST KIND OF SHOWS YOU--THIS PLACE, UH, HAS THE--THIS IS ORIGINAL.

YOU DIDN'T CREATE THIS ATMOSPHERE.

THIS IS THE WAY IT IS.

Lupe: THIS HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR 36 YEARS.

ALL WE DID IS DUST A LITTLE.

THAT'S IT.

Huell: WELL, OK, SHELLS, SHELLS, BOXES, BOXES OF SHELLS.

WHO'S THIS YOUNG LADY OVER HERE?

Lupe: THIS IS LAURA... Huell: HI, NICE TO MEET YOU.

NOW WHAT IS SHE DOING OVER HERE?

Lupe: SHE'S PACKING ORDERS.

ONE'S GOING TO VENTURA, ONE'S GOING TO CATALINA ISLAND.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, SO CATALINA ISLAND.

WHERE WOULD BE THE CATALINA ISLAND SHELLS?

Laura: THIS IS FOR VENTURA.

Lupe: CATALINA ISLAND SHELLS ARE OVER THERE, LAURA.

YEAH, ALL THAT.

Huell: NOW WHAT ARE THESE, FOR, LIKE, A SOUVENIR SHOP?

Lupe: FOR A SOUVENIR SHOP.

YEAH, HE PURCHASES THINGS AND HE ALSO BUYS SHELLS TO MAKE HIS OWN THINGS.

THAT'S A MOTORCYCLE.

Huell: MADE OUT OF SHELLS.

Lupe: OUT OF SHELLS AND SEA URCHINS FOR THE WHEELS.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, SO THESE--SO YOU SELL THINGS TO SOUVENIR SHOPS... Lupe: UH-HUH.

TO SOUVENIR SHOPS, TO PEOPLE-- Huell: WHO ARE THESE SHELLS GOING TO?

Lupe: THESE ARE FOR A COLLECTOR.

HE PURCHASES--HE COMES IN, PICKS HIS SHELLS, AND THEN HE GOES HOME, AND WE SHIP THEM TO HIM-- PACK THEM AND SHIP THEM TO HIM AND HE--HE JUST LOVES SEASHELLS.

Huell: SO YOU HAVE COLLECTORS COMING HERE FROM LITERALLY ALL OVER CALIFORNIA, ALL OVER THE WORLD.

Lupe: YES.

Huell: YOU'RE KNOWN FOR YOUR SHELLS.

Lupe: YES.

MY DAD IS KNOWN WORLDWIDE, HIS NAME AND HIS BUSINESS.

Huell: WHAT ARE THESE?

Lupe: THESE ARE STINGRAYS, SKATE FISH, AND GUITAR FISH.

WE SELL THESE--WE HAVE A CUSTOMER.

SHE TAKES THESE AND SHE MAKES PLANTERS OUT OF THEM AND SELLS THEM AT CRAFT SHOWS AND STREET FAIRS.

Huell: BOY, YOU HAVE EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THE WATER, DON'T YOU?

Lupe: WE SURE DO, AND MOST ALL OF THESE WE'VE HAD FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, AND MY DAD PROCESSED THEM WHEN THEY BROUGHT THEM TO HIM.

WE ALSO HAVE SHARK HEADS, BUT I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY IN HERE.

Huell: WELL, YOU COULD HAVE THEM IN HERE AND JUST HAVE LOST TRACK OF THEM BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU KEEP TRACK OF ALL THE STUFF YOU'VE GOT IN HERE.

Lupe: IT'S IN MY DAD'S BRAIN.

ALL OF IT.

Huell: BECAUSE YOUR FILING SYSTEM IS KIND OF...WELL, YOU'VE GOT THEM, EACH ONE IN A DIFFERENT SHELF.

Lupe: IF YOU ASK MY DAD FOR A CERTAIN SHELL, HE'LL TELL YOU, "GO AROUND THE CORNER, THE FIFTH ONE ON THE THIRD ROW."

HE KNOWS...EVERYTHING.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, NOW THIS IS-- OH, LOOK AT THESE.

Lupe: THOSE ARE ENGLISH CHANNEL SEA URCHINS.

Huell: LOOK AT THESE.

Lupe: UNWRAPPING... Huell: BE CAREFUL 'CAUSE SOMETIMES SHELLS CAN BE VERY FRAGILE, CAN'T THEY?

LOOK AT THAT.

A SEA URCHIN.

Lupe: FROM ENGLAND.

Huell: UH-OH.

YOU BROKE IT.

Lupe: NO, IT WAS ALREADY BROKEN.

I DIDN'T BREAK IT.

IT WAS ALREADY BROKEN.

Huell: I THOUGHT MAYBE THEN THAT WOULD GO IN THE DISCOUNT PILE.

Lupe: IT SURE WOULD.

WE WOULD CUT IT IN HALF AND THROW AWAY THIS HALF AND MAKE A NIGHT LIGHT OUT OF THIS OTHER HALF BECAUSE WE MAKE OUR OWN NIGHT LIGHTS.

Huell: SEE, YOU DO--YOU DON'T THROW ANYTHING AWAY.

Lupe: NO, SIR.

MY DAD RAISED US LIKE THAT.

NOTHING.

HA HA!

Huell: OK, NOW WE'VE COME OUT BACK, AND, LUPE, THIS IS A HUGE OPERATION.

HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO YOU HAVE?

Lupe: WE HAVE 5 AT THIS TIME.

BACK IN THE DAY, IN THE SEVENTIES, WE USED TO HAVE UP TO 30.

Huell: BACK IN THE DAY.

SO THE SHELL BUSINESS AND FERGUSON'S WAS EVEN BIGGER... Lupe: IT SURE WAS.

Huell: BACK IN THE SEVENTIES.

Lupe: IT SURE WAS.

Huell: WHAT HAPPENED?

Lupe: I WOULDN'T REALLY BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT BECAUSE I JUST-- I WAS GONE FOR A FEW YEARS.

I DON'T KNOW.

PEOPLE ARE STILL OUT THERE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF RETAIL SEASHELL STORES THAT HAVE CLOSED.

LOTS OF THEM.

Huell: YEAH.

WELL, BUT THERE'S STILL AN INTEREST SOMEWHERE.

Lupe: AND IT'S COMING BACK, LIKE, BIG TIME, BIG TIME.

Huell: YOU'VE GOT--THESE ARE ALL SHELLS, AND YOU TOLD ME THESE ARE WHAT YOU CALL DIRTY SHELLS.

Lupe: THEY SURE ARE.

THESE ARE DIRTY.

THESE ARE TAKEN--THERE'S BEEN NOTHING DONE TO THESE SHELLS.

THEY WERE TAKEN OUT OF THE OCEAN AND THE ANIMAL TAKEN OUT, AND THEY BRING THEM TO US AND WE GET ALL THIS UGLY STUFF OFF OF THEM AND CLEAN THEM AND SELL THEM.

THESE ARE A REALLY GOOD SELLER BY THE POUND.

Huell: LOOK AT ALL THESE SHELLS.

I MEAN, BAGS AND BAGS AND BAGS OF SHELLS.

LOOK AT THESE.

NOW WHERE ARE THESE FROM?

Lupe: THIS IS OUR PINK MUREX FROM MEXICO.

NUMBER-ONE SELLER.

THIS IS THE BEST SHELL WE HAVE ON THIS PROPERTY.

THE GUYS ARE IN THE CLEANING ROOM CLEANING 40,000 PIECES OF THESE OF DIFFERENT SIZES FOR A CUSTOMER.

Huell: REALLY?

IN THE CLEANING ROOM.

THAT'S WHAT I HEAR GOING ON BACK HERE.

Lupe: ALL THE WATER.

THERE'S TUBS.

THE GUYS ARE BACK HERE.

THIS IS WHAT THEY DO ALL DAY LONG.

Huell: OH, LOOK!

NOW WHAT'S GOING ON BACK HERE, FELLAS?

Man: GETTING READY TO PUT SOME SHELLS IN THE BLEACH.

Huell: IN THE BLEACH?

Man: IN THE BLEACH AND CLEAN THEM UP.

Huell: SO THESE ARE THE DIRTY SHELLS RIGHT HERE.

Man: EXACTLY.

Huell: LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THESE, CAMERON.

THESE ARE DIRTY SHELLS.

Man: WHEN I GET THEM IN THE BLEACH, THEY'LL STAY IN OVERNIGHT, AND WHEN I COME IN THE NEXT MORNING, I TAKE THEM OUT AND THEY'RE NICE AND CLEAN.

Huell: NOW HOW DO YOU PUT THEM IN?

Man: OH, I'LL SHOW YOU RIGHT NOW.

Huell: OH, PRETTY EASY.

HA HA!

Man: I HAVE TO ROCK THEM TO GET THE WATER UNDERNEATH.

IF I JUST PUT THEM STRAIGHT IN, YOU'LL GET AIR UNDERNEATH AND THEY WON'T CLEAN.

SO IF I ROCK THEM, I GET THE BLEACH...ALL IN THE SHELL.

Huell: YOU JUST LEAVE THEM DOWN IN THERE.

SO THIS JUST GOES ON.

YOU'VE GOTTA FILL UP THIS WHOLE THING.

Man: 27 CRATES.

Huell: 27 CRATES CAN GO IN EACH ONE?

AND... Man: LET ME GET THESE OUT THE WAY.

Huell: YEAH, COME ON OVER HERE, CAMERON.

LET'S GET UP HERE AND FIND OUT WHAT THIS GUY'S DOING UP HERE.

Man: THESE SHELLS ARE CLEAN RIGHT HERE.

Huell: OH, LOOK.

WE GOT--NOW WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE.

THIS IS WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE AFTER THEY'VE BEEN BLEACHED.

Man: THAT'S IT RIGHT THERE, A CLEAN PINK MUREX.

Huell: BOY, THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

Man: AND WE'RE JUST WAITING TO JET THEM OUT.

THAT'S WHAT HE'S DOING TO GET THE CREATURE OUT.

Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING OVER HERE?

THIS IS AMAZING.

Second man: I TAKE THE BODIES OUT OF THE DIRT AND THE BODY... Huell: HOW DO YOU GET IT OUT?

Second man: YOU JUST PUT A JET STREAM RIGHT THROUGH IT FOR A MINUTE, TAKE A LOOK AT IT, SEPARATE THEM.

Huell: AND THAT JUST CLEANS THEM OUT COMPLETELY?

SO THESE ARE READY TO SELL RIGHT HERE.

Second man: UH, YEAH, YOU GOT A PROCESS--A SMALL PROCESS AFTER THIS.

STILL HAVE TO SOAK THEM IN BLEACH, THEN DIP THEM IN ACID, YOU KNOW, TO CURE THEM.

Huell: WELL, IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.

IT'S A PRETTY SIMPLE PROCESS.

IT'S AS SIMPLE AS TALKING ABOUT A HOSE WITH SOME WATER SQUIRTING OUT OF IT.

Lupe: SURE IS.

Huell: I MEAN, THIS ISN'T HIGH-TECH.

Lupe: NO, AND IF WE DON'T DO THAT, BOY, CAN THEY SMELL.

Huell: YEAH, NOW IS THIS SOMETHING--IS THIS A PROCESS THAT YOUR DAD FIGURED OUT?

Lupe: YES, HE DID.

HE CREATED IT ALL HIMSELF.

Huell: BECAUSE THIS DOESN'T LOOK TO ME LIKE IT'S CHANGED MUCH... Lupe: IT HASN'T CHANGED AT ALL.

Huell: OVER THE YEARS.

Lupe: NO, NOT AT ALL.

WE'VE HAD THESE TUBS--WE HAD THEM SPECIAL MADE.

WE USED TO HAVE AN OLD BATHTUB LIKE THAT ONE OVER THERE.

THAT'S WHAT WE USED TO USE.

Huell: JUST AN OLD BATHTUB.

Lupe: YEAH.

Huell: AND YOUR DAD--YOU STILL GET OUT HERE AND GET RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, DON'T YOU?

Ralph: NOT UNLESS I HAVE TO.

Huell: HA HA!

NOW THIS IS OLD-FASHIONED.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, LUPE?

Lupe: WE'RE TUMBLING ABALONE PIECES FOR JEWELRY AND CRAFTING, ALSO.

Huell: TUMBLING ABALONE.

SO NOW HERE ARE THE--HERE ARE THE ABALONE SHELLS.

Lupe: IF THIS IS ALL BROKEN UP, WE CRUSH IT A LITTLE, BREAK IT UP, THROW IT IN THE TUMBLER, AND THEN IT COMES OUT SEMI-POLISHED.

LIKE, IT COMES OUT LIKE THIS RIGHT HERE.

Huell: OH, OK.

SO LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS A WHOLE BAG OF TUMBLED AND CRUSHED AND KIND OF SHINED UP ABALONE PIECES.

Lupe: PEOPLE USE THIS TO MAKE JEWELRY, A LOT OF JEWELRY.

Huell: BUTTONS?

Lupe: YEAH.

EVERYTHING, YEAH.

Huell: THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND WHAT IS ALL THIS OVER HERE?

Lupe: THIS IS OUR DRYING RACK WHERE THE GUYS WHO WASH THE SHELLS BRING THEM OUT HERE AND THE SUN DRIES THEM.

SOMETIMES THEY DRY QUICK, SOMETIMES THEY TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS.

Huell: SO THIS WHOLE AREA--THIS WILL ALWAYS BE CHANGING?

Lupe: YES.

WITH SHELLS, STARFISH, SAND DOLLARS.

IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT WE'RE NEEDING OR WHAT WE HAVE.

Huell: NOW THIS IS PROBABLY THE WAY SHELL COLLECTORS ALL OVER THE WORLD DID THIS FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, ISN'T IT?

Lupe: IT SURE IS.

Huell: THEY'D PICK THEM UP OFF THE BEACH, THEY'D CLEAN THE LIVING MATERIAL OUT OF THEM.

Lupe: AND WE HAVE COLLECTOR'S, ALSO, THAT'LL TAKE SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND SIT THERE WITH A DENTAL PICK AND PICK ALL THIS OFF UNTIL IT'S ALL GONE.

Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

Lupe: ALL THIS LITTLE CORROSION.

THIS IS CORROSION AND CRUST.

Huell: WHAT'S THIS ON MY HANDS?

Lupe: THIS IS POWDER FROM THE--FROM THE SHELL FROM THE WASHING.

Huell: OH, IT'S FROM PICKING UP THAT ABALONE.

Lupe: YEAH.

IT'S ABALONE POWDER.

IT COMES OUT OF THE TUMBLER.

Huell: WOW, THIS IS--NOW, RALPH, HAVE THINGS CHANGED HERE MUCH SINCE YOU STARTED THIS THING?

Ralph: NO, WE JUST FILLED IT UP MORE AND MORE.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF CHICKEN HOUSES THERE AND THE GOVERNMENT MADE US TEAR THEM DOWN.

Huell: HA!

WELL, THE PLACE HAS STILL PRETTY MUCH KEPT ITS ATMOSPHERE, THOUGH, HASN'T IT?

Ralph: IT'S BEEN ABOUT THE SAME.

WE CEMENTED EVERYTHING.

KEEP FROM ROCKING THE MUD.

Huell: THEY'RE NOT MANY PLACES LEFT LIKE THIS, ARE THERE?

Ralph: THERE NEVER WERE MANY.

Huell: SO YOU'VE CREATED YOUR OWN LITTLE PLACE HERE.

Ralph: FIND A BUSINESS WHERE IT'S NEEDED AND FILL IT, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE.

Huell: NOW THIS IS INTERESTING.

WHAT ARE WE WATCHING IN HERE, LUPE?

Lupe: WE'RE WATCHING THE GIRLS MAKE OUR SHELL PACKS, WHICH WE SELL VERY WELL.

THEY TAKE A MIXTURE OF SHELLS AND PUT IT EITHER IN A PLASTIC BAG, IN AN ABALONE SHELL-- Huell: WHAT IS HER NAME?

Lupe: HER NAME IS EVA.

Huell: EVA IS TAKING JUST SHELLS OUT OF HERE.

Lupe: A MIXTURE OF ALL DIFFERENT KIND OF SHELLS AND PUTTING IT IN A RED NET.

Huell: OH.

OH, AND HERE THEY ARE OVER HERE.

HERE'S THE FINISHED PRODUCT.

Lupe: YEAH, THAT'S THE FINISHED PRODUCT.

Huell: NOW WHERE WILL ALL THESE GO?

Lupe: PARTY SUPPLY STORES.

Huell: WOW.

Lupe: AND KIDS COME AND BUY THEM FOR THEIR SCHOOL PROJECTS, ALSO.

Huell: WOW.

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT--AND HER NAME?

Lupe: WE'VE GOT LOURDES DOING OUR ABALONE SHELL PACK.

Huell: SO WHAT DO YOU DO?

YOU JUST GET AN ABALONE SHELL AND FILL IT FULL OF-- Lupe: FILL IT WITH ALL OTHER KINDS OF SHELLS.

SMALLER SHELLS THAN IN THE OTHER ONE.

AND THOSE ARE FOR PARTY SUPPLY STORES, ALSO.

Huell: WOW.

AND THEN YOU SHIP-- OH, HERE IT IS.

Lupe: THAT'S THE DONE PRODUCT RIGHT THERE.

Huell: HERE'S THE FINISHED PRODUCT RIGHT HERE, READY TO GO INTO A STORE.

Lupe: IT SURE IS READY.

Huell: AND HOW MUCH OF YOUR BUSINESS--ALL OF THESE BOXES, THIS IS GOING... Lupe: CATALINA, UM, ALL KINDS OF PARTY SUPPLY STORES.

THEY SELL THEM FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LUAUS.

THEY SET THESE ON THEIR TABLES TO GIVE AS GIFTS, AS FAVORS, WHATEVER THE CUSTOMER WANTS.

Huell: WOW.

AND WHAT KIND OF COMPETITION DO YOU HAVE?

Lupe: PROBABLY VERY LITTLE.

I'M NOT SURE.

AND THIS, PROBABLY NONE.

WE HAVE OTHER COMPETITION OF BIG SHELLS AND STUFF, BUT NOT OUR SHELL PACKS BECAUSE WE'RE UNIQUE.

THESE ARE MY DAD'S CREATIONS AND EVERYBODY LOVES THEM.

AND THEY HAVEN'T CHANGED AT ALL OVER THE YEARS.

Huell: THEY'RE THE SAME AS THEY WERE 50 YEARS AGO.

Lupe: YES.

SAME SHELL PACKS.

MAYBE THE SHELLS HAVE CHANGED A LITTLE.

Huell: BOY, THIS IS DONE THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY, TOO, ISN'T IT?

Lupe: EVERYTHING WE DO HERE IS THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY.

Huell: LOOK AT THAT PACKING MACHINE SHE'S GOT THERE.

Lupe: IT'S OLD AS ME.

HA HA!

Huell: THAT OLD, EH?

Lupe: IT'S TRUE.

IT'S BEEN HERE FOREVER.

Huell: ONE AT A TIME.

EACH ONE OF THESE.

Lupe: AND THEN WE SHRINK-WRAP IT WITH A HEAT GUN.

Huell: NOW THIS IS A FAMILY BUSINESS, ISN'T IT, LUPE?

Lupe: YES, IT IS.

IT'S A FAMILY BUSINESS.

FERGUSON FAMILY.

IT'S MYSELF, MY FATHER, AND MY 2 BROTHERS, BUT THEY'RE--ONE OF THEM WAS A RETIRED PRISON GUARD IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND THE OTHER ONE WENT TO BE AN ELECTRONICS ENGINEER IN ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION.

SO NOW IT'S JUST ME AND MY DAD.

Huell: SO THEY GOT OUT OF THE SHELL BUSINESS.

Lupe: THEY SURE DID.

Huell: YOU'RE STAYING IN THE SHELL BUSINESS.

Lupe: I'M IN IT FOR THE DURATION OF THE WHOLE EXISTENCE OF SEASHELLS.

Huell: AND YOU'RE IN IT FOR THE DURATION.

Ralph: YES, I'VE BEEN IN--I'VE BEEN IN IT.

I'M RETIRED NOW.

ONLY WORKING 6 DAYS A WEEK.

Huell: HA!

HE'S RETIRED.

ONLY WORKING 6 DAYS A WEEK.

Ralph: 6 DAYS A WEEK, THAT'S ALL.

Huell: WELL, YOU'VE BEEN GOING SINCE 1945.

Lupe: YES, HE HAS.

Huell: AND THIS IS A VERY PROUD FAMILY BUSINESS AND TRADITION DOWN HERE IN WILMINGTON.

I AM SURE GLAD THAT WE HAVE COME YOUR WAY TODAY AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO... Lupe: WE'RE GLAD THAT YOU CAME.

Huell: SEE THIS PLACE AND SHARE IT WITH OUR VIEWERS BECAUSE I GUARANTEE WHEN YOU VISIT WILMINGTON AND WHEN YOU VISIT FERGUSON'S, IT IS LITERALLY LIKE GOING BACK IN TIME TO A SIMPLER, A KINDER, GENTLER TIME BACK WHEN SEASHELLS RULED.

BECAUSE THEY STILL RULE DOWN HERE.

Lupe: YES, THEY DO.

Huell: AND IT'S A WONDERFUL BUSINESS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING ALL OF THIS WITH US.

Ralph: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Huell: NOW IF YOU COME DOWN HERE ON THAT SEVENTH DAY, YOU MIGHT NOT SEE RALPH BECAUSE HE'S RETIRED.

HE'S ONLY WORKING 6 DAYS A WEEK, RIGHT?

Ralph: YES, ONLY 6.

Huell: BUT OTHERWISE, HE'LL BE HERE.

Lupe: OH, YEAH, HE WILL BE HERE.

IF YOU KNOCK ON HIS HOUSE DOOR, HE'LL COME OUT ON THE SEVENTH DAY.

Huell: AND SELL YOU SOME SHELLS.

Lupe: YES, HE SURE WILL.

Huell: WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL DAY LOOKING AT THE SEASHELLS HERE AT FERGUSON'S.

COME ON DOWN AND SEE IT FOR YOURSELF.

IT IS A TRUE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TREASURE.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] Announcer: VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM...