Ciguatera in the Gilbert Islands — COOPER 
421 
reef flat with fine 
algae and patches of 
Plectonema 
I I 
Izone of red i 
icolored alga^ 
red colored algae on 
top of dead coral 
broad zone of millepore coral with deep surge channels; 
| bottom of surge channels coved with sand, and sides of 
| surge channels with bright green algae on ledges; area rich 
I fish and invertebrates 
FIG. 3. Diagrammatic sketch of toxic area of reef at Marakei, water at low tide; depth of top of submerged 
heads of millepores about 4 feet below low tide level. "Red-colored algae” are mostly Laurencia mariannensis . 
are dead coral pinnacles which reach almost to 
the surface, and the tops of these are covered 
with red algae. On the whole there was little 
algal growth below low water mark compared 
with the quantity on the reef flat. Beyond the 
belt of millipore coral, the reef face drops away 
fairly steeply to deep water. Many fish of dif- 
ferent species were swimming above the coral, 
in the channels, and over the edge in the deeper 
water. 
With the exception of tetraodonts and dio- 
donts, toxic fish were unknown on Marakei prior 
to 1946. In that year a few fish caught on the 
reef near Rawanawi were found to be poisonous. 
By 1947 the affected area had spread southward 
along the reef as far as Buota, and many more 
fish were found to be toxic. By 1948 "all” fish 
were said to be toxic in some degree, when 
caught anywhere along this reef. Although the 
Gilbertese say "all” fish were poisonous, there 
were a few species, chiefly pelagic and oceanic, 
that were not affected, but it was not safe to eat 
most reef-dwelling or reef-hunting species. Many 
people were poisoned but few died, the only 
remembered deaths being the very old people 
and those already debilitated by disease. The 
Marakei people were forced to discontinue reg- 
ular fishing on this reef, although they continued 
to collect octopus and other molluscs, none of 
which became toxic. 
When toxic fish first appeared the Marakei 
people, having had no previous experience of 
toxicity, did not know what was making them 
ill. As more fish became toxic and the intoxica- 
tions increased in severity, they realized that the 
fish had become poisonous; they were exceed- 
ingly angry and surprised, and immediately 
sought around for a reason. At first many people 
blamed the medical dresser, saying that he had 
fouled the reef with old medicines and dress- 
ings. Even to this day the Marakei people are 
loath to go to any medical officer when poisoned 
by a fish. 
Another idea, a usual one throughout the Gil- 
berts in an unknown, unpleasant situation, was 
that someone was making black magic and had 
poisoned the reef. The blame for this was put on 
a Maiana man who had been imprisoned on 
Marakei by the Marakei Island magistrate. Some 
people blamed a party from Butaritari, who ar- 
rived on the Sacred Hearts Mission ship, "St. 
Teretia”; they brought with them some alumi- 
