294 



THE SPONGES OF THE WEST-CENTRAL PACIFIC 





EBON ATOLL 



i- *t 3 - A - 5- 



Text Figure No. 199, Map num- 

 ber 14. Ebon Atoll. The scale 

 reads in kilometers. Stars indi- 

 cate areas where sponges were 

 most studied. A : Location of 

 the "pearl pool." 



Ebon Atoll was studied, as to its shallow waters, on the east, south, and 

 west. The northern rim did not appear at all promising, because of the cur- 

 rents and wave action there. Several reefs in the central portion of Ebon 

 Lagoon rise nearly to the surface. Were they a little higher they would form 

 nearly circular islets there. These were also studied both by viewing box 

 and diver. Their sponge life was fairly abundant. 



In addition to studies in the lagoon, at Ebon, but not elsewhere, I was 

 able to collect on the seaward side of the reef. This was on the lee side, and 

 the sponge abundance was meagre. 



At the west end of Ebon Lagoon is a pool, bordered by a reef on the 

 lagoon side, and by dry land on the other three sides. It is probably more 

 than 20 meters deep in its center. Here, about 1940, the Japanese tried to 

 cultivate pearl oysters and indeed some large pearl oysters do occur there. 

 This area of about five acres (here called the Pearl Pool) proved to be 

 especially rich in sponge species and individuals, many of fairly large size. 



Thirty-six species of sponge were found at Ebon, equalling the record 

 made at the far larger atoll of Truk. 



Ailing-lap-lap Atoll was the first one that I studied in 1949. A some- 

 what longer time was spent there than in the others. It is not quite so gener- 

 ously provided with sponges as is Ebon Atoll, but is very interesting. The 

 shallow lagoon was studied in the north, east, and south. The western region 

 did not appear to be promising, judging from studies of maps and conversa- 

 tions with natives. 



Near Bikajela Islet, on the south rim of Ailing-lap-lap Atoll an area 



