Trip to Monte Bello accompanied by Bill Currey and Peter Board. Locations visited, a reef to west of north part of Hermite Island, Crocus, Bluebell, Primrose and North West Islands. approximately 20°19' - 20°27'S, 115°28 - 115°31'E. A description of the reef and weather conditions is given, summary follows; reef flat between 10-15ft at high water level with sandy bottom channels running through reef right up to island, depth 30-40' (more in southern part of reef). Southern part of Reef flat, large areas of plate coral, very thin and fragile, also staghorn forests and other coral species, boat could not be navigated over this area at Low Water Level. Surge [channels?] noted along reef and limestone rock and reef crest isolated by fragile plate coral and rough surge.
More soft corals in north part (off Primrose Island).
Camped in bay halfway down west side of Hermite Island approximately 20°26'S 115°32'E. Visited Tryal Rocks, visited Balton[?] S and SSE of Tryal Rocks, 30-40' deep - rubble. Went south of Trimouille Island and west of Hermite Island out east to 10 fathom line - very interesting varied ground - no plate corals - gorgonians. Pearl shells on west reef. No Crown of Thorns starfish seen - some other large species seen.
[Detailed notes on trip to Dampier studying marine molluscs, abridged summary of observation and collection follows.]
27/05/1976
Dampier, below sports fields. Saccostrea echinata - high water level to about mid tide level. Description and photos of two types given. Few S. amasa near lower limit of oyster zone.
28/05/1976
Intertidal rocks to north of swimming pool, Dampier - LW about 5pm. Saccostrea echinata from just below HWL to just below MWL. S. amasa ? from just above MWL to just below. Predators, drupe on oysters and mussels (separate bag).
Visited plant nursery run by Hamersley Iron, collected live land and fresh water snails and slugs, and a fragment taken from a "cyst" in a bag of compressed peat moss from Germany.
29/05/1976
About 10:30am accompanied by W.C [William Currey?] at Service Jetty, Dampier - just NW of pelletising plant and loading jetty, on NW side about half way along. Hyotissa sinensis on rocks about 15-20 ft (near high tide) on sloping under face with V[?] side uppermost. Plenty of Sponylus[?] and large Chama on same rocks and adjacent ones. No Hyotissa hyotis.
Cleaverville - north of Karratha. LW at about 5:30pm, collected along reef walking south west. Were looking in particular for Coralliophilas and "plate" (Turbinaria type?) coral and none found.
30/05/1976
W. Currey, P., S.S-S (and Robert and Deborah Currey) departed at 9.30 am[?] to go to Gidley Island, anchored on south side of Gidley Island on west facing side near large boulder Island [20°27'30" S 116°46'3-" E]. Photos at High Water Level and Mid Water Level. Collected Hyotissa sinensis, H. hyotis, and some smaller oysters might be young of above - one collected (broken) appears to be Ostrea colium. Intertidal boulders are covered with S. amasa from below HWL to about LWL (surveyed near high tide). Oysters in upper level of zone are small and crowded[?]. Those in deeper water are larger and more normally formed even when growing in clumps. No other species of Saccostrea seen.
[Two label(?) slips included at end of notes, both transcribed below.]
SW Corner of Gidley I, Dampier Arch. 30' at hightide, 20°27'30"S 116°46'30"E please check.
SW Corner of Gidley I, Dampier Arch. 30' at hightide, 20°27'30"S 116°46'30"E SSS. 30-V-76
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