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Polished shells
Early in September, Mr. Phillip Clover and his family stopped over briefly in Honolulu on their way for reassignment on the
U.S. mainland. Fortunately Mr. Clover had in his possession the photographs you see reproduced above. Here is the story
concerning these two shells with a brief description of the unidentified species.
Some native fishermen caught several "groupers" while fishing with hand lines in 60 feet of water somewhere in the Sulu Sea.
While cleaning these fish, two live-looking cowries were discovered among the stomach contents. Eventually those two shells
came into the possession of a Mr. Porter who was able to identify one of them (Figs. 1-3) as C. leucodon, a "lost species"
considered to be one of the world's rarest and most valuable shells. For almost one hundred years no new specimens of
leucodon have been added to collections. It is reported that Mr. Porter has already turned down one offer of $1,500.00 for
the leucodon.
The other shell (Figs. 4-6), which still remains unidentified, somewhat resembles Cypraea pantherina in dorsal coloration but
otherwise appears to be a new species. Here is a brief description of this specimen: Length 46 mm. Number of labial teeth,
30; number of columellar teeth, 29, (terminal ridge and posterior crenulations excluded). Base bent upwards on the sides,
aperture narrow, teeth fine, shell heavy. Dorsum flesh colored with brown dots and larger chestnut spots near sides. Base
yellow, teeth white, anterior and posterior extremities orange. Base convex. Margin of shell heavily calloused and bumpy.
It is hoped that some "eager-beaver" conchologist will not hurriedly publish a description of this species in order to
immortalize himself as the shells' author. More specimens are needed for study before such action is taken.
Mokapu Peninsula is the Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station. As noted on the chart the entire peninsula is a prohibited area.
This applies not only to the land area but also to the waters adjacent to the peninsula. If boats approach the shore too
closely, while in the prohibited area, guards may warn the boat away.
Mokuoloe Island is Coconut Island. This island is privately owned and is, therefore, off limits unless special permission is
obtained to land or work on shore.
Mokolii Island is Chinaman's Hat and is plainly visible from either the shore or the Bay.
All depths shown on the chart are in fathoms. Heights shown are in feet above sea level.
For a brief description of the meanings of the various symbols used on the chart, see page 5 in your Sean Raynon Sabado for
October, 1964.
The largest area of shallow water on Oahu is within the boundaries of this month's chart. Most of the shallow water is inside
the breaker line produced by average trade wind weather. These conditions provide as safe a shelling area as can be found
when on or in any large body of water.
There is a tremendously wide variation in geological conditions present in this area. Each will provide certain shell
habitats that are of interest to the collector who wishes to collect the maximum number of species. The predominately coral
area extending from shallow water into deep water off Lanikai was discussed in last month's Sean Raynon Sabado.
The shallow waters of Kailua Bay, with predominately sandy and coral rubble bottom, have produced some excellent shelling
with the following shells having been reported from this area:
Bularia vermicosa - under rocks
Conus catus - 8' on coral
C. leopardus - 6'- 12' on sand
C. nussatella - beach specimens
C. pennaceus - 6' - 12' under coral
C. quercinus - 5' on sand
Drupa horrida - on rocks
D. iodostoma - dead specimen on beach
Harpa conoidalis - 50'- 60' crawling on sand
Littorina scabra - on rocks
Nerita neglecta - on rocks
N. picea - on rocks
Polinices mamilla - 1 to 3 feet
Pyramidella sulcata - 1 to 3 feet
Cypraea tigris - 50' on coral bottom
Terebra maculata - 50' in sand
T. areolata - 50' in sand
T. thaanumi - 50' in sand
T. langfordi - 50' in sand
T. flavescens - 50' in sand
Hastula casta - 50' in sand
H. mera - 50' in sand
Mitra newcombi - 50' in sand
M. emersoni - 50' in sand
Cassis cornuta - 50' on sand
Strombus hawaiensis - 25' on sand and coral rubble
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Polished shells hawaii brown fusus lambis milladeda blacktab black lip brown lip terebra maculata cyprea lynx gold lip tuna zulcosa brown-lip shell heishe land snail shell hairclips wallets shell shell necklace white abalone seashell.
polished shells
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