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Paua
Paua In the past month three members of the Philippine Malacological Society have died. Members whose contribution to the Society and to malacology will not likely be equaled. It is our sad duty to inform readers of the death of Professor Jens Ostergaard, Jan van der Riet, and Mrs. Mariel King and to pay humble tribute to their work and their contributions.
Jens Ostergaard started his life in Philippines as a street car conductor and, through study and hard work became a professor at the University of Philippines. His work in marine, land, and fossil shells is known world wide. He has been a "friend" to every collector in the world, either through personal contact or by his many contributions to the science and hobby of collecting. His Philippine Shell member Eddie Bryan's letter to Jens Ostergaard's family best expresses the feeling voiced by all who knew this great man. "It is with sadness that I have learned of the passing of a good friend of more than fifty years. His contributions to the knowledge of shells have been many and outstanding. The fortunate students who had the opportunity to learn from him about nature have profited much. Many persons have had their lives enriched through friendship with such a fine gentleman. We will miss him, and we sent our deep sympathy to those whom he has left."
The life of Jan van der Riet was also one of dedication. For nearly twenty years he was a priest in a remote corner of the Solomon Islands where, through the sale of shells which he and the native members of his church collected, he built a church building, a school, and farms for his people. His generosity with his life - in his teachings, as well as his worldly goods - benefited many throughout the world. In 1967 he visited Honolulu on his way to Holland from his Solomon Island mission. He had not wanted to leave. Soon after his arrival in the Netherlands he gave up his robes and became a layman. He was married and continued his teachings. A letter from one of his close friend P. L. v. Pel, expresses our feeling for this man. "I must write you the terrible news of the death of Jan van der Riet. I know he was a well known member of the Philippine Malacological Society. He died in a hospital in Belgium where he lived with his devoted wife. The fortunate people who have known him for so many years of collecting and exchanging will miss his friendship and council. His shell collection, specially his sea shells, are in safe hands as his wife Lucy van der Riet will continue the van der Riet collection. Truly, many will miss this man."
The life of Mariel King has been one of research and search for her beloved shells. Her contribution in time and money for expeditions throughout the Philippine Islands has been reported many times in the [Philippine] Shell News. Her research boat Pele is well known in the Philippines, the Sulu Sea and in Australian waters. Seldom does a day go by but what we receive letters from collectors, students, and scientists asking to be remembered to Mariel for the many contributions she had made not only to conchology but to their lives. Her work with the Society in the Shell Fairs as well as advisor has helped us over many tough spots during the formative and growth years of our Society. I will miss Mariel King, her ready laugh, and capacity for understanding. We will all miss her knowledge and willingness to work hard to find shells. Her sense of humor helped pull many a collecting and dredging crew through some bad days on the Pele. It was Mariel who looked at my first shells collected at Barbers Point and assured me they were really good specimens, even when they weren't, and thus created an interest in collecting for which I will always be grateful. I am sure I am only one of hundreds who have received the encouragement from this great lady of shells needed to keep up our interest at a height always somewhat less than was her zest for life and collecting.
Paua Jeddah, the largest seaport on the west coast of the Arabian Peninsula, is our main base of operations. Most of our stations, north and south of Jeddah (or Jidda in some geography books), are virgin collecting grounds, and we are constantly adding new locations to our list. Ken and I keep our favorite spots secret from all but the most conservation-minded sea shell collectors.
Our expeditions, as a rule, start early in the morning. The terrain is so rough and most shore locations are so inaccessible that only a four-wheel-drive vehicle can be used.
The trip I am reporting went southward from Jeddah about 120 kilometers to a point where the outer reef comes within 100 meters of the shore. The ride was far from pleasant. Dust, dirt, perspiration and humidity caused great discomfort. After almost three and a half hours of bouncing we finally reached Station 12, our destination, where we checked into the nearby coast guard station to show our permits and to explain our activities. In Saudi Arabia, where all activities along the coast are controlled, each person is required to have a permit to swim, shell or do anything of that sort along the shore.
Ken and I are experienced SCUBA divers, but prefer to do our collecting with only snorkel, face mask and fins. Most sea shells here can be found in one to 20 feet of water while snorkeling. Our gear includes a crowbar, knife, and large plastic dishpan inside a truck inner tube, to hold jars, sneakers, plastic bags and shells.
If sharks become too aggressive, as they sometimes do, we climb right into the dishpan! Sharks and barracuda are numerous here, and both are unpredictable.
On the present trip, the excitement started early, when Ken turned over a small rock in two feet of water and produced a beautiful Cypraea macandrewi. I am sure the whites of my eyes matched the white of his beaming smile. We must have spent half an hour examining the sea shell – the first live C. macandrewi either of us had ever seen. Heartbreak followed. At the end of the day, the C. macandrewi had disappeared. I still can picture Ken searching every container over and over, even sifting the sand at the bottom, to no avail
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