August 10,

1964

(cont.)

covered dead coral in all areas.

General impression is that algal

Species are few in number and not much better than observed in

1961."

Palumbo.

Billings took soil samples to 26" at each end of the island.
One bulk density sample was driven at each location.

Wood sec-

tions of principal trees were sawed out.

"Invertebrates appeared to be more numerous than when cursorily
observed last year.

In the one-hour perusal half way across the

outer reef flat from the islet,

there were corals and clams on

the old coral heads and auger snails and hermit crabs on the sand.
There were still no sea cucumbers,

spider snails or Hippopus.

Tridacna crocea embedded in the coral were small,

2-4 inches.

Coenobita were sought widely in both the lagoon-side and oceanside vegetation, but were seen only near the east end on the lagoon
shore against the cut bank.

Grapsus on the lagoon side shelf

rock and Ocypode on all sandy shores were seen.
abundance of new coral on the reef:
Or about 20 pounds per acre.

Estimating the

about 1/2 pound per 1,000 feet?

This estimate was based on pacing

and visual estimation of coral weights."

--Bonham.

Williams and Sneddon concentrated on photo and words of the
activities of Palumbo,

including the hacking his way through heavy

brush with a machete, hunting for marker stakes,

gathering plants

Select target paragraph3