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Pukalet
Pukalet In spite of cold weather and rough waters both sides of the Island's shores were worked by collectors during the past month with moderate success.
On the leeward side, off Kahala, Ed Heale and Harry Masaki collected four specimens each of Cypraea gaskoini. Several other of this species were found in the small colony of shells but had damaged shells or were sub-adults and were left under the coral chunks. In the One Hundred Foot Hole area Warner Pukini collected a very nice specimen of Murex elongatus. A little farther along the lee coast of Oahu, Tom Richert collected a large, perfect specimen of Conus spiceri. This rare find off Ala Moana. In the same area Tom collected two Strombus dentatus and a nice Charonia tritonis (Triton's trumpet shell) about 8" long. Back down Waikiki way, Charles Boerner collected two fine specimens of Umbraculum sinicum from two feet of water off the Halekulani hotel.
On the windy windward side Jack Uyemura collected two fine specimens of Cypraea chinensis off Kaneohe.
On the north shore Jean Womack found a nice Cypraea cicercula in the beach drift at Haleiwa. It took sharp eyes to spot this shell.
Would you believe Strombus gigas from the North Sea? A rather unlikely find indeed and yet just such a shell was discovered near the Hague, off the coast of Holland by Alex Storm. The story came to light in a recent conversation with the famous Canadian treasure hunter at his home in Louisburg, Nova Scotia.
Alex and two partners thrilled adventure lovers in 1965 with their successful search for a French Man-o'-War, Le Chameau, which sank in 1725 with an estimated $2 million in gold and silver coin, of which the trio recovered about $700,000. (See Canada's Treasure Hunt by Storm, a very exciting book). Recently they made another big find and it was this treasure we were discussing.
The subject of shells came up and Alex showed me the Strombus he had discovered in the wreckage of an ancient wooden hull in 1956. Rough seas had just wrested the old ship from a sandy tomb when Alex happened on her. While not a conchologist, he nevertheless recognized the alien shell amid a heap of ballast stones, jugs and an ancient anchor. It was the only souvenir he collected from his first wreck.
The shell's spire had been cut off and filed smooth for use as a trumpet, and two holes had been drilled in the lip about four inches apart, possibly to provide attachment for a lanyard to be worn around the user's neck. We speculated on the likelihood that this shell had been employed as a foghorn on the ill-fated vessel not an unlikely theory as it put out a loud blast.
Alex had figured that the shell had been transported to the North Sea via Cape Horn from the Far East. I nixed this theory, however, assuring him that it was a native of the West Indies. This established the date of the sinking as sometime after voyages to the New World had begun.
Many shells have strange stories behind them, but few others if any have had the distinction of being employed in such fashion, let alone being found twice in two separate oceans, thousands of miles apart, on two separate dates, centuries apart!!!
Pukalet 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.
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