Hi Everyone:

I am not an OMS member and I have no plans to join the Society at present
because I live (and collect mushrooms) in Southern California. However, I
joined the OMS Yahoo group because I have several questions which may be of
interest to many of you.

Professor Nicholas P. Money of Miami University in Oxford has published an
article in the February 2005 Journal of Mycological Research entitled "Why
picking wild mushrooms might be bad behavior"
The title page, although not the article, is online here:
http://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/Publications/Mycological_Research/Mycological_Res\
earch_FEBRUARY_2005.pdf

In his article Money states:

"In the UK, The Wild Mushroom
Pickers Code of Conduct, published by English Nature
in 1998 and endorsed by the British Mycological
Society and many other bodies, urges personal collections
of ‘no more than 1.5 kg per visit or no more than
half of any single species present. ’ While I support
these efforts, and have lobbied for similar injunctions in
Ohio forests, I am troubled by the prevailing justifi-
cation for these policies." (Money, p. 132)

Since Professor Money has apparently lobbied for mushroom picking
restrictions in Ohio I am wondering if any of you were aware of his efforts
in this regard? Have there been any public hearings or meetings on this
matter at which Professor Money was present or as far as you know, have his
contacts been private? Were picking restrictions such as those advocated
by Professor Money enacted by the state? If the restrictions were enacted,
were the arguments of Professor Money influential or even decisive in the
final outcome, in your opinion? If the restrictions were enacted, what
part of his argument had the greatest influence or impact?

I am preparing a response to Professor Money, possibly in conjunction with
other concerned amateur mycologists. Any information you can provide is
gratefully appreciated.

You may respond privately (off list) to <spencall@...> in confidence,
if you prefer.

Mycologically,

Steven

P.S. Although most of us would disagree with Professor Money, he does have
a right to his views. I hope that no one contacts him in a manner that
reflects poorly on the amateur mycological community.

Money, N. P., Why Picking Wild Mushrooms May Be Bad Behaviour, Mycol. Res.
109 (2): 131–135 (February 2005).