inches. Ten of these trays were stacked on top of each other in 

 the oven above a wood fire. The maximum temperature at the top tray 

 was held to approximately 175°F. The strips are dried for only one 

 hour a day and during this period the trays are interchanged in 

 position so as to give even temperatures from top to bottom. Alto- 

 gether from ten to fifteen heatings are necessary. The purpose of 

 this slow drying is to prevent the outer flesh from drying while 

 the interior still contains a large amount of moisture. 



After the sticks are thoroughly dry, they are carefully scraped 

 to bring them all to a uniform size and shape. The next step is 

 to allow the sticks to mildew. They are packed in wooden boxes 

 holding 82 pounds, covered, sealed, and stored in a warm room for 

 about two weeks. TChen the sticks are covered with green mold, they 

 are removed from the warm room and dried in the sun. This treatment 

 removes the fat which otherwise would decompose and give a rancid 

 flavor and taste to the sticks. After removal from the warm room 

 and sun drying, the sticks are brushed, repacked in boxes, and 

 placed in a sterilization room where carbon bisulfide is evaporated, 

 and also steam sterilization is used. Following this, the mildew 

 process is repeated twice and between treatments the sticks are 

 again sterilized. After the final sterilization, the sticks are 

 wrapped in paper and packed 82 pounds per box, for shipment to Japan. 



OTHER MARINE RESOURCES 



Sponges .-Native sponges of several unidentified species, espe- 

 cially of the horny (Class Demospongiae) varieties, are common 

 throughout the ex-mandate • At Ponape, Kusiae and Likiep, they are 

 abundant enough to be used in place of a towel after bathing, and for 

 scouring cooking utensils* They occur in depths less than two fathoms, 

 but no investigation was possible to determine if there were addi- 

 tional resources at greater depths. The specimens seen had no 

 commercial value, and the Japanese did not attempt to harvest them. 



Japanese Sponge Culture in the Marshalls »-In June and July of 

 both 1939 and 1940, the Japanese imported live sponges to Ailinglaplap 

 Atoll and planted them in a protected area of about 2 acres with a 

 depth of 3 to 5 fathoms over a fine white coral sand bottom. In 

 the absence of any Japanese records regarding this project, there 

 is no way of determining where the sponges were brought from, how 

 they were kept alive in transit, how many were planted, or how large 

 each cutting was. The information presented here is from an inspec- 

 tion of the plantings on August 26, 1946, and conferences with 

 natives nearby. 



36 



