The female later lays a yellow parchment-like string of egg cases in deep water, anchoring one end in the sand. The string consists of as many as 30 to 40 pouches, attached by a common heavy central cord. Each pouch may contain up to 100 fertilized eggs encased in a jelly-like material. The conch embryos are slow developing. Occasionally, winter storms will break the strings free and wash them on to shore.
Lucky beachcombers can tear open the pouches to find the shells of the developing conchs.
Local shellfish officers have long considered conchs predators of shellfish. In an effort to protect shellfish beds, many towns have adopted shellfish regulations requiring the destruction of all conchs collected. For many years lobstermen saved channeled whelks found in lobster traps during the fall and winter months to market them during the winter holiday season. Within the past 10 years, however, the commercial market for the channeled whelk has expanded to a year-round directed fishery. Overfishing is threatening the conch population.