Pre-test Methods of collection were the same as for previous surveys, that is, hand pries and gloves were used when necessary to obtain specimens found while wading or swimming. The con- tents of the small dredge were examined on the stern of the “M-boat" from which the dredge was towed. Special attention was given to locating certain common animals intended to serve as & basis for comparing localities. These were primarily : sponges, corals, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, ghost crabs, rock crabs, red-eyed crabs, hermit crabs, snails, clams, and oysters, While collecting these primary kinds, other invertebrates were also sought to obtain a collection that would be representative of the locality. While most of the collecting was done on the lagoon side of the islands, approximately one-third was on the outer side, chiefly at Engebi, Runit, Japtan, and Igurin. Specimens from Pilraai were collected by the crew of “M-boat” No. 38. In preparing specimens for ashing, small specimens were ashed entire while large ones were dissected and the tissues ashed separately. In the case of intermediate-sized speci- mens, hard parts such as exoskeleton or shell were separated from soft parts for ashing. Smaller samples of hard parts than of soft parts were used in order to equalize the quantity of ash on the plates. Animals from which tissues were dis+ - sected and ashed were: sea cucumbers, sea urchins, large crabs, snails, and giant clams. Analysis of the data was based on sample counts of one or - 30 -