tORQUmiA 
Published by ihe Lorquin Natural History) Club 
(Organized— August 1913) 
Volume 
^umbei 
9 
Los Angeles, Cal., April 1917 
Subscription 
SI Per Year 
A SHORT LIST OF THE MOLLUSCA 
Collected at White's Point, Calif., by Allyn G. Smith, 
August 14-18, 1916. 
White's Point proper is a group of ledges jutting out into the 
ocean about two and one-half miles north of Point Firmin, which 
marks the entrance of San Pedro Bay. The ledges run parallel with 
the coast line and are connected to the mainland by a strip of sandy 
beach nearly covered at high tide. Two small bays, one on either 
side of the sand strip, are created by the main ledge of rock which 
acts as a sort of breakwater protecting the rocky beach from the full 
force of the waves. When the tide is at its lowest many more ledges 
appear than are at first apparent and these are interspersed with tide 
pools both large and small. Along the shore are masses of broken 
rock of all sizes. Due to this particular arrangement of rock and 
quiet water shell collecting, particularly of the smaller species, is 
excellent. 
The methods used to collect might be of interest. It is not at all 
necessary to confine one's collecting to times of low tide only, al- 
though a greater variety may of course be found at this time. The 
long fronds of kelp and seaweed often harbor many small species, 
and when the tide was very low quantities of this was brought in 
and piled on the beach to be looked over at high tide. Eel grass was 
treated in the same manner and was found to be especially productive 
if roots and all were brought along. Tide pools were thoroughly 
examined and yielded many finds. The chiton family is found in 
these more commonly and can be taken from rocks covering the 
bottom. The balance of collecting was done by overturning rocks 
both large and small along the shore and carefully examining their 
under surfaces. 
White's Point has long been a collecting ground well known to 
conchologists. In the past it was the location of an abalone camp 
maintained by the Japanese, and the catch from the Channel Islands as 
well as the mainland was brought here for drying. In the heaps ot 
moss covered shells left there from time to time rare and fine species 
have been found. This day is past, however, and the collector must 
now confine his energies to the ledges and tide pools. 
