+ 
Snail lagoon sha rks ranging from five to sight feet long were 
abundant here aoi often oame ouriously about as we worked or swam in 
shallow water. Many were the tales told of them,but on the whole we 
paid little attention to these sharks, as Anderson fran long experience 
in these seas, proclaimed than harmless.^ y&l admitted that their fins 
cutting the water were repellant. and- usually we bore knife, harpoon, 
or other weapon when we entered the water % (It seemed at times ticklish 
isiness to wade ashore to some island from the launch, while the dark 
4 . 
forms of sharks out swiftly through the water near at hand attracted by 
the splashing of our movements* 
large rays, known here as "diamond fish" from their form, were 
also conanon but were very shy so that they disappeared at any evidence 
of human activity. 
At our last camp, on Tern Island, we found some tools, dishes, a 
ship's compass, and other articles wrapped in a canvas and thrust tinder 
a log, while near at hand were stakes and refuse marking a Japanese 
camp of a few months past. Apparently the crew of a wrecked fishing 
vessel had sought refuge here until some other sampan had taken them away. 
Boobies, shearwaters, and the other breeding birds of these low 
islands abounded and were our daily companions, as our tonts were surrounded 
by their nests. One great blue-faoed booby took our presence philosophically 
and accepted fish from the hand of George, our cook, as if it had been 
accustomed to such favors all its life. The sooty tern colonies found 
on a number of the islands were the greatest attraction, as in several 
a number of acres were covered by brooding birds, spaced at intervals of 
