Locality:
Rongelap Atoll,
Date:
Kabelle_Island.
Personnel:
August
26 ,
g
Weather:
Same 14,
5
Wed.
1954,
Hot.
Water conditions;
Flat calm.
Gessel--ashore at Kabelle Island first thing in the morni
ng
to complete sampling and measuring.
Thanks to the help of all
members, work at Kabelle was completed by 11:30 so that return
to the ship for a noon departure could be arranged.
Palumbo,
Welander,
Williams helped Gessel measure plants
in the wash area between the island to the south of Kabelle,
also in the Pisonia grove near Pit #7.
grown well ina year's time.
and
Some of these trees have
The vegetation is closing the gap
between the islands mentioned and the sand is filling this area.
Coliected coconuts in the area near Pit #7.
Jackson--Traps were set along lagoon edge in cocos planta-
tion,
and in Messerschmidia-Pisonia forest.
forest,
Especially in the
trap disturbance by coconut crabs was extensive.
crabs were caught in the traps--but no rats.
that no rats are present here."
Many
"My conclusion is
|
Two rats~-~Polynesians--trapped alive on Enyu Bikini--were
individually placed in the water about 3/4 mile from Kabelle
Island.
Theyoriented toward the boat and tried to climb ahoard
upon reaching it.
this period,
Observations lasted less than 1/2 hour.
pictures were taken.
The rats swam strongly,
During
some-