tip of the spire has been riddled by marine boring worms. If the infestation has been 

 extensive and appears in more than 10 percent of the shell area, the shells either bring 

 a lovjer price of may be discarded entirely, as they are unsuitable for button making. As 

 a conservation measure, the Japanese prohibited the taking of "any shells less than three 

 inches in diameter at the base and this regulation should be rigidly enforced in the future. 



Sea cucumbers of many varieties are common throughout the Palaus, but are eaten to only 

 a limited extent by the natives. The Japanese, however, not only used large quantities 

 locally, but prepared trepang for export to Japan. Several natives at Koror are now engaged 

 in preparation of trepang and with proper guidance in preparation of the desired qxialities 

 and with assistance in marketing, it should prove a good and steady source of income for a 

 number of natives throughout the year. The process itself is a simple one and- consists of 

 boiling, eviscerating, and drying the sea cucumbers. The drying may be done in an easily 

 constructed oven, but care must be taken to avoid spoilage while in warehouses awaiting 

 transportation. The main types of trepang now being prepared at Koror are shown in Fig. 31. 



There has always been a limited market for giant clam shells, due to use for bird baths 

 and baptismal foiints. If a definite outlet could be found for some of these shells, they 

 could be taken in the course of other fishing. One of the main problems is that of packing 

 and shipping, as each of the valves of the shell frequently weighs more than a hundred 

 pounds . 



Decorative and curio shells, such as the cowries, the helmet shell, and the trumpet 

 shells, are abundant and are taken by the natives in the cdurse of their regxilar fishing. 

 Probably many more could be brought in than are at present. However, it is necesseiry to 

 exercise considerable caution in encouraging this particulair project for the reason that 

 all of these shells are fragile. They require special packing and handling and it is 

 believed that no attenqst should be made to supply the American market from the Palaus. 

 TOiatever quantity can be sold, either locally in the Palaus or at Guam, could be handled. 

 Under present conditions it is doubtful if it would be economically sound to attempt to 

 ship such shells clear to the United States. 



Black lip pearl oysters have always been in demand for the manufacture of buttons, 

 shell inlay in wood, and for buckles and various carved pieces of ornamental jewelry. 

 The supply of these oysters in the Palaus is believed to be considerable, although 

 scattered over a wide area. As more canoes are constructed by the natives and they are 

 able to travel more widely in their fishing operations, they should be able to obtain 

 quantities of these shells in the course of their regular operations. No data are avail- 

 able on vhich to base estimated annual production. The rate of growth of this pearl oyster 

 is not known, but it is thought to be con^Jaratively slow and that from seven to twelve 

 years may be required to r^ach maximum size of around eight or nine inches in diameter. 

 Conservative measures are essential to prevent depletion, and until better information can 

 be obtained it is recommended that no black lip pearl oysters be taken under four and a 

 half inches in diameter. Individuals examined in Koror in July were full of ripe spawn 

 at that time. Pending further knowledge, it is recommended that there be a closed season 

 on the taking of these oysters during the period June 1 through August 31. 



As early as 1930, four Japanese companies were engaged in experimental production 

 of culture pearls from the black lip oyster in the vicinity of Koror (Pa]^us). These 

 were the Mikimoto Pearl Industry Company, which was still in operation during the war; 

 the Kimi Suisan Pearl Industry Company, whose holdings were in the harbor and were abandon- 

 ed on account of harbor dredging; the Pacific Ocean Pearl Industry Company, who also began 

 operations in 1930, but who had abandoned the work before the end of the war. The last 

 was the South Seas Pearl Industry Company, which was in operation to the end of the war 

 and known to have made plantings of pearl oysters as late as 1939, The extent and success 

 attained by these companies is not known. At the time of our visit all of the oysters 

 with cultxire pearls had been taken up, either by the Japanese, or by the natives sub- 

 sequently. There were reports of one deep water plantipg in from 20 to 25 fathoms, which. 



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