4 
In the ocean surf at the outer edge of the reef, comprising mostly 
the Lithothamnion ridge the conditions are similar all the way around the 
atoll and the stations occupied indicate a similar abundance of fishes, 
exoept possibly at the eastern end where fewer fishes were taken. 
The ocean reef is not as luxuriant a habitat for fishes on the 
windward side as on tip leeward side of the atoll* This is indicated in the 
index of atnndanee off Bikini and Rorauk Islands where it is low as compared 
with the leeward side, showing more than ten times more fish per square 
yard. 
Suitable lagoon reefs for poisoning occur only toward the western 
end of the atoll making it impractical to run poisoning stations at the 
eastern end. Such stations, no doubt, would have been of little significance 
anyway because of tip extensive blasting of coral heads and shoals at the 
eastern side of tip lagoon resulting in considerable fish mortality. 
Isolated tidal pools are very scarce on coral atolls. Thvee such 
plaoes were located on Bikini, that at Sokon Island on the eastern side had a 
lower index value as compared with fcht at Hamu and Cherry Irelands. Such 
A 
tidal pools permit a high concentration of fishes during low tides, 
which accounts for the higher values. 
The shallow water reef fish studies indioate and are corroborated 
by other observations that the fish fauna of Bikini Atoll is scanty on the 
windward side but more abundant on the leeward side. Undoubtedly the 
h/ 
larger amount of moving sand on the winderd side over and around the reefs 
inhibits the growth of fish-food organisms, thus not supporting as many 
individual fishes* 
