Mermaid's Purse....

.....or Devil's Pocketbook?

Or Skate Egg Case!

These small (about 2" long, not counting the "horns") organic pouches found on our beaches can be somewhat pliable or rather rigid, but they are quite durable. I learned to call them Devil's Pocketbooks, but more romantic beachcombers call them Mermaid's Purses. These fascinating objects are actually skate egg cases.

Island resident Crystal Caterbury has written an informative article (with photos) about these egg cases in the Ocracoke Current. You can read it here:  http://www.ocracokecurrent.com/126604.

This month's Ocracoke Newsletter is an essay by Philip Howard explaining why he decided to stay on the island as Hurricane Florence approached. You can read it here: https://www.villagecraftsmen.com/why-i-stayed/.