Q While I was at the shore this week in Belmar NJ there were millions of clear small {about 1/2 inch } blobs of jelly on the shore and in the water. I have seen them before washed up on shore but not as much as that day, it was almost like swimming in jello there was so much of it. What is IT !!!!

A Hi Caroline,
It would be nice to be on the beach - at the moment we are in the middle of winter and beach walks tend to be rather brisk affairs for the brave.

A few years ago I was on the east coast of the US and observed something simillar - not only on the beach but also in the water. What I discovered was something that we dont see large numbers of in our waters such as you have described.

Without seeing a picture I would guess (!) that what you might be observing are masses of comb jellies or Ctenophores. They are particulary numerous on the east coast in late summer.

Attached is a picture for your comparison.

These animals are not true jellies and are in a phylum of their own but still have a number of feeding tentacles under their bodies.

One of the most facsinating things abut watching them is that they have rows of cilia that run down their bodies and these create rainbow like defraction when the animals move.

You can find some comprehensive info on the phyla at the following URL
http://faculty.washington.edu/cemills/Ctenophores.html

Let me know if this sounds about right.

All the best, MR