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Heishi
I have a theory which if substantiated by subsequent investigations might very well prove why the New Hebrides are without
the Golden Cowry. If you will look in the November 7, 1960, issue of LIFE, (Yes, we filed it) you will find that it is
devoted to some of the accomplishments of the International Geophysical Year. Included in the projects which the world
scientists had outlined for themselves during this period of 18 months were extensive studies of the various ocean floors.
LIFE shows the main features of this investigation in a series of maps. It is a double page, fold-out map of the floor of the
South Pacific to which we wish to call your attention. This map shows among other things a New Hebrides Trench. The New
Hebrides are located on the western side of this trench, and the Solomon Islands and Fiji are on the eastern side. Could this
trench, channeling along the northern shores of New Guinea waters of the Indian Ocean, prove an impassable barrier to
expansion of the Golden Cowry in its trip from Fiji to the Solomon Islands? A study of Map 61, referred to above, seems to
support this theory. Now, you researcher with the necessary maps, charts, I.G.Y, results, get busy!
Again referring to this map of the floor of the South Pacific, we find shown very prominently thereon a giant fissure called
the TONGA trench. It runs northwesterly from the New Zealand neighborhood to almost the equator where it turns sharply in a
westerly direction. Fiji lies west of this Tonga Trench. The Tonga Islands, Samoa, still further away from the Society
Islands, and the Tuamotus all lie to the east of this giant fissure. Could this be the reason for the very infrequent
occurrence of the Golden Cowry, in the islands east of the trench? Does this trench form an almost complete barrier? It's
something to think about.
In my next installment, I will tell you where they are found, how I believe they got there, probable points of origin, and a
few tales involving this shell.
The Maroro, a ketch with auxiliary diesel that once belonged to the queen of Tonga, left from Lautoka, near the Fiji airport
of Nandi. After visits to reefs and islands in the Mamanutha group it went onward to the Yasawa Islands for a couple of days.
Then down to the Kandavu Island group and the great Astrolabe Reef.
The Evanses, who had spent hours at a stretch snorkeling in the clear 80-degree water, reported that the area did not beat
the Great Barrier Reef, but that it was highly rewarding, and easy of access. They remarked further, "It is different. After
you come out of the water at the Barrier Reef there is nothing, and accommodations are undeveloped. Here in the Fijis you
have an interesting region with native villages and tropical islands, and very good hotels and boat accommodations."
They reported miter shells in abundance, spider conches, Tridacna, and black-lipped pearl shells, the latter on the Yasawa
Island reefs. There were also many "lettered cones'' and "marbled cones", an "orange spider conch", a "hawk-winged conch,"
and a very rare "Isabell cowrie" [Cypraea isabella]. [The] Terebra maculata, the big auger shell, were in quantity. Another
prize they found was a six inch "sparky vase."
The Evanses reported many strombs or Strombus and where a family of these was encountered other shells were also found, such
as the "blood-mouthed conch." Other shells they added to their collection were: a "globe vase," or Globulus, poisonous Conus
striatus, Conus californicus, a "skiff ark" or Arca scapha, and a "lithograph cone" or Conus litoglyphus Hwass.
Take for example the splendid cone, Conus prometheus Hwass (which is considered to be the world's largest cone). This shell,
while not rare, is infrequently secured by the Tipos Indicenas tribes, being worn as both an ornament and symbol of wealth by
women of the tribe. The tops of the large cones are neatly sliced off and dangle from strings of beads or leather thongs down
the back of the wearer or hang between their breasts. As a well-to-do native will exchange as much as a full grown cow for a
fine specimen of this shell, it is little wonder that collectors find them difficult to obtain.
Also very popular are the smaller and often rare Cypraea of the region such as zonaria gambiensis, picta, sanguinolenta,
petitiana, and even the West African form of lurida which are formed into strings for head and neck decoration, suplimented
with the more readily secured Cypraea annulus.
To a dedicated collectors, such use of rarities may well seem a desecration of fine shells. However, one had best look at it
philosophically with the thought that the major purpose of shells (once the animal who created them has ceased to have use
for its home) is to bring pleasure to the possessor either asthetically or scientifically and who can say who enjoys them
the most, the native or the specialist.
many shells that come from deeper waters.
We left the Navy Base in Central Zambales at 5 A.M. on December 14, 1963 and traveled south to Subic Bay. There we boarded a
40' boat that I had chartered for the day. Ten Shell Collectors (including wives) and my two children went along on this
trip.
We traveled out of Subic Bay by 8 A.M. and around the southern tip of Zambales along the West Coast of Luzon or South China
Sea to the first big Bay on the coast.
It is called Selangium Bay and is nearly 2 miles long by 2000 feet wide, all reefs and quiet water. We anchored a few hundred
yards in the Bay in about 40' of water at 10 A.M. The reef came up at a 60 degree angle here and you are in 5 to 10 feet of
water. I was the first one in the water and soon picked up a large purple mouth Pleuroploca trapezium that my little girl had
seen from the boat through a view box (or lookie-lookie box). After handing her this shell I swam but a few yards and found a
large 8" pair of Lambis chiragra. I felt this would prove to be a good shelling spot, after such quick luck. (Altogether we
got 8 specimens of L. chiragra)
In two hours of diving for shells in sand, under rocks and breaking coral with a crow bar we all came up with about 100
species of shells over 1" long. On my way back to the boat the last rock I flipped over had a 4" tiger cowry under it much to
my surprise since most of the Cypraea tigris we get in the Philippine are 2" to 3". This was the largest specimen I had seen
outside of Philippines.
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