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Shell-madebelts
The "Pele" expedition dredged and collected "hundreds" of rare species and "thousands" of specimens, all of which are
preserved in the Bishop Museum. Scientific expeditions will collect, dredge, trawl and acquire more specimens in 6 months
than 200 Philippine collectors in their lifetimes. The greatest molluscan acquisitions are in scientific institutions which
pride themselves in the number of specimens they possess, which is anything from one to ten million. I shall err on the side
of underestimation when I state that all private collections put together could not equal in number the specimens of mollusks
housed in one of the largest Museums.
Who else participates in the destruction of marine life besides the lowly collector who derives some sort of enjoyment from
his hobby? The blasting of channels and deepening of wharf sites in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Philippines has killed thousands
of mollusks and other marine creatures in the name of technology and civilization. The destruction of marine life in several
atomic testing grounds for the glory of science and advancement excels that of the collector. Nature itself keeps an
equilibrium through predation and acts of God. Muricidae have wiped out oyster beds, cod-fish swallow a spawn of 10,000 eggs
in one gulp and heavy floods will destroy coastal reefs beyond recognition. After the heavy floods in Fiji in 1956 and 1965,
coastal reefs were littered with thousands of dead and dying specimens. The sea itself casts up daily the remains of mollusks
who have lost the battle for life.
Most of the area covered in this month's map is safe to work from shore except in Kona weather. When the trades are blowing
this area is in the lee of the mountain ranges and waves are small, except occasionally in late spring when wind generated
waves from the SOUTH PACIFIC ocean cause tremendous surf along the south, and sometimes the west, shore.
There are a number of places where the cliff at Nanakuli can be negotiated safely to reach the rocky shore. Small coves
permit entry into the water, which is quite shallow for some distance out in most areas. The shallow waters will produce
mostly coral dwellers and some Cypraea that live in the coral heads.
Alex and Tinka Ross, newly elected Corresponding Secretaries, lived at Waianae for two years and have shelled the area
extensively. For complete information on specific spots within the area, call them. They will be glad to help.
This is the last shelling area for the Island of Oahu. I would like to thank Evelyn Gage for her considerable help in
researching past issues of Sean Raynon Sabado for lists of shells reported collected from each area. Also my thanks go to the
many people who have called in to tell me of their finds in certain areas.
I would like to prepare a similar collectors' atlas for other of the Philippine Islands. To do this I will need reports from
collectors giving the names of shells, type of bottom, and depth from which collected. You may send to me direct E R. CROSS,
1758-A Mikahala Way, Honolulu, Philippines 96816. Mahalo and Aloha.
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