noTT much more scarce than formerly. We found no large trochus shells, even on the outer 

 reef. According to our informationj the area around Kiti and Matalanim was not greatly 

 affected by the Japsinese occupation and the supply of fish and shell fish was not greatly 

 reduced there. This was due to the fact that the Japsinese moved away from Kiti when the 

 American bombing of the island started. 



A few native nets are constructed entirely, of local materials. One was four fathoms 

 deep and 38 fathoms long. The mesh or bar is 2-3/4- inches square, made from sennit twine, 

 about #60 size. Floats were made of hibiscus wood (kalau), 2-1/2 indies in diameter by 

 16 inches long, spaced 17 inches on the cork line. Leads are of Anadara shells, also 

 spaced 17 inches apart. The net is used mainly for catching large blue parrot fish inside 

 the outer reef. 



The natives make a wide variety of handicraft articles from tortoise shell. For sale 

 at the U.S.C.C. store were combs, belt buckles, wrist watch straps, and rings. The rings 

 have silver or brass inlay. In general, these tortoise shell products were of very poor 

 quality. Ihe shell was not selected, in the first place, for attractive markings, nor was 

 it well finished. Combs sell for 85 cents and a dollar and many have little other than 

 curio value. The wrist watch bands sell for 75 cents and unfortunately do not fit all 

 watches. The rings sell for a dollar. Proper design and finishing would greatly increase 

 the attractivness and saleability of ti^ese articles. It was reported that the only 

 material available to the natives for polishing tortoise shell articles is old Japanese 

 tooth paste, which apparently is much coarser than ours. "No machinery is available for 

 cutting, grinding, orpolishing. 



At the time of this survey the natives had no Supply of the larger or smaller sizes 

 of fish hooks; only a comparatively small stock of medium size hooks being on hand, 

 Ihere was no fish line at all, nor seine twine for making throw nets. Most of the throw 

 nets ^ich the natives had are now worn out. 



Note on Fishing Vessels , 



The harbor at Ponape is littered with the hxills of Japanese san^jans, ranging in size 

 from 25 to 50 feet. All of these hulls, both in and out of the water, are beyond salvage. 

 Two sampaJis about 4-5 feet long are now being operated by Military Government. One, which 

 is assigned to a native sub-chief, is approximately 36 feet long and in very poor condi- 

 tion. Water transportation around Ponape is dependent on these three Japanese boats, 

 although there is a limited amount of travel by native canoe. Vne Japanese boats are 

 powered with one to three cylinder, two cycle, dirett reversing, semi-diesel engine irtiich 

 is started with a blow torch and develops approximately 15 horsepower per cylinder at 600 

 R.P.M. This type of engine uses a very heavy diesel fuel and will not operate on American 

 fuel of 50 cetane. Ihe engine is of the straight drive type without reduction gear and 

 has a simple clutch with throw-out or neutral, but no reverse. The propeller is about 24 

 inches in dianeter, with a 20 inch pitch, and the usual speed is six to eight knots. Ihe 

 vibration is terrific, 



C. NUKUOEO ATOLL (Population 235 - 1946) 

 (August 6) 



Ihere is no barrier reef, the fringing reef extending from shore out approximately 

 150 yards. Ihe edge of the reef drops abruptly to over six fathoms. There is about six 

 to 12 inches of water over this reef at low tide. The reef, although flat, is extremely 

 rough, having many scattered rocks up to three feet in diameter over it. Small shells 

 used in handicralt, such as the so-called "monkey- face" and "gold ringers", are abxmdant. 

 Ihese are to be found under the rocks in approximately six inches of water. Small black 

 sea cucumbers, six to eight inches long, were extremely abundant on this reef. We saw no 

 yellow ones. It was reported that the spiny lobster (Panulirus) is very abundant on this 



24 



