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Chama lazarus
There is something in the May issue on which I would like to comment. It is about "mass slaughter of shells"… The fact that
some 500 Cypraea coxeni were offered in various lots, is mentioned as "further proof of indiscriminate shell collecting,"
implying that there is danger that soon no "Cox" cowries will be left. Well, is it really proof of "mass slaughter"? Wouldn't
it, perhaps, be proof that, after all, Cypraea coxeni just isn't as rare or uncommon as has been thought? The C. coxeni
referred to are from Rabaul; so I presume that they are C. coxeni hesperina. I must admit that I do not know how rare or how
common they are. But I do know a fair bit about C. coxeni coxeni, which are endemic to the Solomon Islands. Until recently
they were only known from New Georgia Island (Roviana and Marovovo lagoons) the broad type with swollen margins. But two
years ago they were also discovered on south east Malaita, and last year we found them also here at Ata'a (north-east
Malaita). They are an elusive shell, as they seem to occur in places where hardly any other type of shell is found. It
appears that they prefer to be completely on their own, in very quiet water. We only found a few odd C. punctata and C.
microdon granum in their company. (See my report "Shelling on Malaita" in Feb. issue, '66 of H.S.N.). But where C. coxeni
occurs, there it is quite common in almost unlimited supply. Incidentally, the Malaita C. coxeni is rather slender, without
swollen margins. I think that there are many small bays, etc., in the Solomon Islands, where the "Cox" cowries are still
undiscovered. And most of those areas are quite isolated and right off the beaten track for tourists and eager shell
collectors.
There is also another aspect to the matter of "mass slaughter of shells". The local people here have practically nothing and
are as eager to get some money as anybody else. And as they have discovered that there IS money in shells, they go out to
collect what they can get. Unfortunately for them, by collecting too many shells of a certain species, they cause the price
to drop drastically. But once the price is at the lowest possible level, they loose interest, and the species is saved
automatically.
In my opinion there is no need to sound the alarm when a few hundred of Cypraea coxeni are offered for sale. Even several
thousands would not threaten this species with extinction.
In conclusion, I would like to add that I believe that collecting in nature should ALWAYS be done in moderation.
The area of fossil shells easiest to reach is that at Waipio Peninsula. To find this area consult your Standard Oil Company
service station road map of Oahu. Fill your car with fine Chevron gasoline and drive Ewa on Farrington Highway (State Highway
90) through Pearl City toward Waipahu. About half a mile before entering Waipahu, highway 742 joins 90. Look for the State
Highway sign 742 on the right of Farrington but pointing left. Make this left turn onto Waipio Peninsula. Three-tenths of a
mile after turning left the road passes over an overpass. About 100 feet past the overpass you will see a cane-haul road.
Make a sharp left turn, almost 180 degrees, down the road to the bottom of the slope. There you will see what is now a dirt
road. This was once the railroad right-of-way. Turn left on this and proceed (in fine weather only) until under the overpass.
Then stop and look around. Ostrea retusa will be found on both sides of the cut and along the cut in both directions from the
overpass. Note in case you haven't guessed, I work for Standard Oil Company!
Sort through the shells carefully. They are mostly soft and easily broken. Complete sets of shells (both valves) can be found
with a little searching. Shells other than the Ostrea retusa that may be found along the road are not necessarily fossil
shells since the coral fill to make the road was hauled to the area.
Once you have all the Ostrea retusa you want for your collection, get back on Highway 90 (Farrington Highway) and proceed
through Waipahu. Nine and one half miles from Depot Street (in Waipahu) Farrington Highway joins the coast and runs parallel
toward Waianae. About a quarter of a mile toward Waianae after you can see the tracks of the railroad on your left, there is
a small dirt road that crosses the tracks out to the low bluffs overlooking the sea. These are the Nanakuli Sea Cliffs. As
you face the sea, Kahi Point is to your left, Waianae to your right. On the seaward side of the tracks a rough dirt and rock
road parallels the railroad in either direction for a short ways. This is strictly a fair weather road. Proceed carefully and
don't try it during wet weather.
[Two photos of fossil areas omitted]
There are several places in this area where it is safe to climb down the sea cliffs to the rocky sea shore. Then you will be
able to clamber over the rocks and broken coral that has tumbled down from the cliffs and locate fossil shells. There are
fossils all along the sea cliff but my favorite place is almost to Kahi Point. I have found Conus tulipa, Lambis species,
Strombus mutabilis, and many others in two days (one hour each day) of fossil collecting.
I have seen many children playing along the shore line beneath the sea cliffs and it is safe for children provided they have
supervision and receive help in getting down the rather steep trails. However, stay away from the area when big surf is
running and during Kona storms.
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