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Shell fashion
Back on the boat our loot included Conus glans, stercus; Muscarium and Scabreusculus, Cypraea chinensis and poraria; Lambis
lambis (by the dozen); Rapa violacea; Nassarius papillosus; Oliva miniacea; Mitra ambigus; Murex adusta and triqueter to name
a few.
After lunch we traveled further into the Bay and dove again with about similar results. About 3 P.M. we anchored all the way
inside the Bay and could even see some native huts on the beach. The water still was deep but more dirty here. We were told
that Selangium Bay is used as an anchorage for the U.S. Navy Fleet during the typhoon season and I can easily believe this as
it is 50' deep all over right up to 100 feet off shore.
Anyway, into shore three of us went. The rest of the party were too tired to dive anymore. The reef, as such, was all dead
and very dirty, only about 3' deep too. We spread out and started to look over the area. It was mostly dead silty slabs of
coral and dead coral heads to turn over. Only a few Lambis and Cypraea erosa were found and nothing else. As I was about to
give up and head back to the boat with the other divers, I noticed a small, dirty sand patch about 4" x 12" with two
elongated humps sticking out of it. As this was just a glance I didn't think much of it, till I remembered the shape of a
shell shown in Webb's Handbook, Plate 5, see #8, and instantly it came to me what Webb said, "I have had these from the west
coast of Luzon" which is where I was today. Before me, in 3' of dirty, muddy water was a perfect pair (alive) of Murex clavus
- a synonym for Murex elongatus. My joy was boundless and I had everyone in the boat looking for this rarity in no time. We
spent till almost dusk, but to no avail. There just were no Murex elongatus on that reef anywhere.
We had a bit of a time getting home as the boat's running lights were burned out, and we hadn't planned on traveling after
dark. The moon was out and all went well till we came to Subic Bay. From here on we were in the main channel that the
aircraft carriers use and it was a scary run into port, but we made it O.K. Everyone had a good time and for me it was one of
the finest diving trips I had made in years. No doubt, we and many others will go back to Selangium Bay as these were the
first 2 live Murex elongatus found in this area with accurate locality data, from what I can gather talking to the local
divers and shell collectors. The natives bring them to Manila from the Sulu Sea area but never seem to know exactly how or
where they are found.
The Murex elongatus were covered with seaweed and moss and blended in well with the dirty brown to black reef. With their odd
shape too, they don't look like a normal sea shell at all.
July 12, 1962
"My Dear Mr. Greene,
"I purposely did not reply to yours of 5 April '62, because, in the absence of my godson diver, there was nothing I could do
about sending a live taken golden cowry.
"My godson arrived from Cebu last May and I immediately told him of your desire. We made several shelling trips just for a
live golden cowry, but for over a month we were unsuccessful. Then, Eureka! on June 25, 1962 just after the last quarter of
the moon, at around 11 o'clock in the evening, my godson emerging from the water was holding in his hands a live Cypraea
aurantium and after giving it to me he went back to the water to look for another. We stayed for over an hour more, but my
said diver was not able to duplicate his feat.
"We were using only a Petromax gas lamp on the banca boat. It was a dark and moonless night and my godson's only weapon was a
crude fish gun and a two battery flashlight inserted inside the tube of an interior bicycle tire. From our position, I could
see that we were not far from the shore, it was around two or three meters from the intertidal zone and the depth was not
more than from 3 to 5 fathoms. Beneath we could clearly see coral reefs all around partly covered by seaweeds, My godson
tells me that this one was taken in a rock crevice under a coral ledge. The place, Dahikan coral reefs, Manay, Davao, just on
the other side of Manaol Point facing the East from Manay Bay. Manaol Point is also a golden cowry country as some of my
shells were taken from here.
"That was our only reward for the evening. Although tired and hungry I was in good spirits, because I am now in a position to
comply with your request. The shell is now in a glass container with rubbing alcohol ready for you as soon as I can avail
myself of a plastic container. My only problem now is how to send this to you by air cargo. Our plane office in Davao City,
being only an agency of the PAL (Philippine Air Lines) may not accept it free as a scientific specimen. I will be going to
Davao this week and find out from the local manager if this could be accepted for free (as a scientific specimen). Otherwise
I will notify you accordingly."
Well, they wouldn't accept it, declaring that it was unmailable. Finally Philippine Airlines agreed to accept it as a special
shipment for a fee of $10, and it was delivered to them by Mr. Lahora, transferred to QANTAS at Manila, arriving in Honolulu
on the morning of Oct. 4. I was phoned to come and get it. We imposed on a friend (Mrs. Andrus) and went to the airport, got
the cowry, and took it to Dr. Kay's office at the Science Department of the University of Philippines. Miss Kay's opening
salutation was, "Where's my Golden Cowry?" We gave it to her and you know the rest. All except her official and scientific
report which will be published soon.
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