Hi All,
        I think that skeps are great things I enjoy making them and the bees
really like them.  At present I am making one with removable frames as
in top bar hives (if you want to know all about these hives contact
James Slatterfield at [log in to unmask])  The skep is cylindrical with a
wooden rim on which the top bars are laid.  A tall conical roof made of
straw finishes the hive off and I hope will keep the whole thing
reasonably dry.  Such a skep would be, I think, legal in the USA.
--
Harry
Scotland
 
Knitwear Web pages:
http://freespace.virgin.net/luichart.woollens/
Beekeeping Page:
http://freespace.virgin.net/luichart.woollens/page8.html