testing for deleted messages at google groups beta version

The beta version of google groups may contain as few as HALF the total
number of messages in the original groups database.

I tested this with the search string < google groups beta sucks > (no
quote marks), searching for it at the beta version site in the US and
also at the old original version site still hosted in India.

The results were shocking to me -- 272 messages at the beta version,
but 577 messages at the old original version.

Where are the 305 missing messages?

I hope that others perform similar tests and report their finds in
usenet as well.

cat yronwode