White beads were cut from the white part of the quahog or whelk shells. In the state of Virginia, these mesh bags are mandatory in whelk/conch fishery. The imposex phenomenon has been observed in the veined rapa whelk in Chesapeake Bay. Predators of the dog whelk include various species of crabs and birds. "Wampum" is a Wampanoag word referring to the white shells of the channeled whelk shell. Most often the Iroquois used various types of whelk spiral shells for the white beads. Some shellfish, such as whelk, contain arsenic. The most common was the lightning whelk, which has a left-handed or sinistral spiral. Small mussels are also eaten by the dog whelk, "Nucella lapillus". The dog whelk lives in rocky shores, and estuarine conditions. The lightning whelk is the State Shell of Texas. The common name "whelk" is also spelled "welk" or even "wilk". The female whelk lays spongy egg capsules with hundreds of eggs. It can be confused with "Neptunea antiqua" (red whelk), which is poisonous to humans. Before he can act, he becomes ill after tasting some whelk sashimi.