The method of planting was simple, and carried out by natives 

 under Japanese supervision. Cement blocks 5x5x2 inches were 

 used as anchors; from this block a piece of solid aluminum wire, 

 about Ho. 12, stretched upward to a float made of a tightly corked 

 and sealed Japanese beer bottle. The length of wire varied somewhat, 

 but was long enough so that 24- sponge cuttings could be strung on it 

 about U inches apart. A few wires had as many as 30 sponges on them. 

 Not all of the cuttings survived, but mortality was not excessive, 

 for almost all 7/ires had 20 to 24- sponges on them. The bottle float 

 was from 1 1/2 to 2 fathoms below the surface. The lowest sponge 

 was 12 to 18 inches above the bottom. Anchors were spaced 10 feet 

 apart on the bottom, sufficient to prevent fouling the wires in case 

 of a storm, for we saw no wires which had become tangled. 



According to a native informant, samples were sent to Japan, but 

 no conmercial harvest was made. A few sponges are taken by the na- 

 tives, for washing babies. Their method of cleaning sponges is to 

 bury them under water and sand on the lagoon reef for 3 days, wash 

 in salt water followed by fresh (rain) water, then dried in the sun. 



Although it was impossible to make an exact count, there are 

 several hundred sponges remaining. The aluminum wire is becoming 

 brittle, and the sponges should be restrung or removed by August, 1947. 



The sponges are a very dark blue color when alive, but after 

 cleaning are very nearly white without bleaching. The size varied 

 from A to 6 l/2 inches in largest dimension. Shape was rather irreg- 

 u'ar almost all individuals having one or more short protuberances 

 which prevented them from having a spherical shape. 



Dr. It. W. deLaubenfels reported on a sponge sent him for identi- 

 fication as follows: "The specimen is Spongia o fficinalis, subspecies 

 mollissi ma, known as Fine Levant or Turkey Solid. One expects to find 

 this exclusively in the eastern Mediterranean, and it is absent or 

 rare elsewhere in the world. The specimen is one of the finest I 

 have ever seen. Its fibers are a little bit weak, perhaps as a result 

 of chemical bleaching, but in general it is worthy of enthusiasm. 

 This is the sort of sponge that is suitable for some of the highest- 

 price use, such as for blood absorption in surgical operations. I 

 have tested it carefully; its elasticity, holding power, and allround 

 •sponginess" are superlative." 



Pear l Shells . -The black lip pearl oyster, Plnctada margaritifera . 

 is widely distributed throughout the ex-mandate. Specimens were 

 taken at Saipan, the Palaus, Ponape, Kapingamarangi, Nukuoro, and 

 Likiep. They are abundant only in the Palaus. Japanese figures 

 for 1939 showed a production from the Palaus of about 2500 tons of 

 pearl shells, but it is thought that the figure includes catches 

 made elsewhere. In addition to the Palaus, it is believed that 



37 



