|
|
Components
Components All further specimens (only three more in as many years) were again found at night, between 10 and 12 p.m., and always during the first to second hour of the incoming tide. What struck me as very strange was that, uncommon as the species seemed to be, on these few night occasions quite a colony of them could usually be seen, emerging from the sand at nearly the same moment, moving about for a while., then all vanishing together as quickly and mysteriously as they had come. Specimens not taken (and I never collected more than 2 or 3 on each occasion) disappeared, however, completely, and were never seen again, although I undertook long searches on following nights. Once also I had been diving and hunting in the area for two nights preceding a sudden appearance, but none were seen then. As my huntings usually covered a several hour period from just before low tide to mid tide, I cannot explain these strange and irregular appearances and disappearances. I did notice though that shells seemed to form close colonies, as sizes and weights were fairly constant within one finding but varied from one time to the next. Shells of one locality were also consistently larger and heavier than those from the other.
The two pictured specimens, measuring about 53 and 56mm, were found in Saluafata on the north coast of Upolu, Western Samoa, on 23rd June, 1961, and 9th October, 1962 respectively. The dark brown dorsal blotch on the upper specimen is unique; none of the other shells found shows any trace of it.
For those who would like to puzzle for themselves over the strange behavior of this species I will add the dates of the other findings, viz. 11th Sept., '63, and 28th Oct., '63. These last two findings were preceded and followed by especially intensive searches in this area over many months, at various states of the tides and up to 2 o'clock in the morning! Shells appeared only on those two dates, not before and not after, and within half an hour of their first appearance they had already started to re-bury themselves, with none left in view after one hour.
Just two miles from teeming Waikiki Beach, and a scant one mile off Diamond Head, is a spot on the chart known to local divers as the "100 Foot Hole." If someone were to ask me, "What is the 100 Foot Hole?", I would have to answer "It isn't."
It isn't 100 feet deep; it's only about 85 feet. And it isn't a "hole", it's a giant piece of lava, perhaps belched out of Diamond Head crater in ages past, pierced by a criss-cross of tunnels and surrounded by smaller pieces of lava and coral chunks.
Basically the ocean bottom in the area is a hard, gently sloping, coral plain covered with a thin deposit of sand, silt, and marine growth. Scattered here-and-there will be found patches of algae. Under the coral and rock chunks will be found sandy-silt and shells. Just seaward of the "hole" a steep sloping ocean bottom plunges to considerable depth with occasional flat areas a few square yards wide. In the flat areas will be found pen shell (Pinna) beds and, feeding on these, Cassis cornuta.
Components New Philippine Shell member Joe Honda found a Charonia tritonis measuring over 17" long while diving in 100 feet off Waikiki. Also Joe collected a crabbed Tonna melanostoma in the same area. This is not beginner's luck. Joe is an experienced diver and collector but only recently became a member of the Society.
In the December Sean Raynon Sabado, a Cypraea "Little stranger" was reported; it turned out to be Cypraea rashleighana.
Ed. note: Lyman turned this column in to me for the January issue but some how in the shuffle I misplaced the "finds" until this month. Sorry about that Lyman.
Ed. note: A frequent complaint of visitors to the Singapore area is, "Where do we find shells?'' This interesting report by John Orr should help collectors "home in" on many of the elusive Singapore shells.
Recently I was lucky enough to discover what our local conchological experts claim to be only the fourth live Cypraea stolida ever to be found in Singapore waters.
Shelling among the many small islands in the vicinity of Singapore can be exciting but rather frustrating at times. Waters are inclined to be murky, currents strong and unpredictable, and at certain seasons many of the coral beds are overlaid with thick almost impenetrable clusters of weed.
The fauna is reasonably varied and apart from the handsome Voluta nobilis which is the island's most characteristic shell, quite a number of species of sea shells are found.
The kelongs (fishing stakes) seem to be quite profitable hunting grounds as many of the bamboo poles used in their construction are thickly encrusted with growths of colorful corals, sponges and other marine growth. These harbor a number of different species including Cypraea gracilis, C. pallida, C. onyx, C. lutea (rare in this region), C. errones, C. miliaris , C. pyriformis and C. walkeri.
Coral polyps seem to be tempermental creatures, for a likely-looking kelong will be found completely barren of marine life apart from occasional barnacles, limpets and mussels. Yet barely a hundred yards away another row of stakes will be heavily encrusted with corals and sponges. (Beware of the well disguised stone fish which seems to find a happy retreat here in the hollow apertures of broken stakes; also the velvety fronds of "fire coral.")
components,shelltiles,hair,black lip,pawa,shell fashion,shell hawaiian,heishe pokalet,pokalets,components
Components raw troca shell necklace craft shells wallets whole saler supplier shells leis pukka shell hairclips pokalet shells beads trokka shell bracelets craft troka shellcrafts cowrie shells heishe sigay white abalone shell jewelry.
components
Shell Jewellery
 
|
