August 18, 1964 (cont.)
Only roof rats were found in coconut grove areas near shore
and around the old concrete bunker.
Past the tower,
rats were caught, but some roof rats were caught.
Polynesian
Rats were not
caught in areas of sparse vegetation.
Roof rats were quite variable in pilage color suggesting
multiple origins for the population
(in contrast to the situatio
on Engebi).
Two of 9 adult roof rats pregnant.
here reach sexual maturity at a
elsewhere,
It appears that roof: ra
larger size
(hence age)
than
but this symptom of a very dense population needs to
be checked.
No ectoparasites were found.
Three rat skins were made.
Stomachs were collected for further analysis.
One rat had a sma
growth on its paw.
Ship left the Bikini anchorage and moved southwest to a
point 6 miles on a triangle from the middle of Bikini and Enyu
islands to do deep water and sediment sampling.
is southwest of the old crossroads site.
~-165 feet deep).
The area select
(11° 34.0' N.,
165° 27
The Ran Annim was allowed to drift with the
currents and wind to provide motive power for the bucket dredge.
10 gallons of water were collected from near the bottom with Van