Full Record

Shirley Slack-Smith : [Field notebook] : Abrolhos [04/04/1979-14-04-1978, 06/05/1979-23/05/1979]
Record no:
Call no:
FN306
Author:
Year:
[04/04/1979-14-04-1978, 06/05/1979-23/05/1979]
Description:
[139] p. ; 21 cm.
Subject:
Notes:
Field notebook with daily notes covering two field trips to the Abrolhos. The first from 4/4/78 to 15/4/78 accompanied the following; Anne Mitchell (Dept Botany, Uni of SA), John (Director, Herbarium, WA Dept. Agric.), Marion Cambridge (Cockburn Sound Survey & Dept. Botany UWA), Roy France (Dept. Geol. UWA), Roger Steene (Cairns), from WAM; Gerry Allen, Fred Wells, Loisette Marsh, Barry Wilson, Clay Bryce, and Dennis Devaney (BP Bishop Museum Honolulu). Notes consist of summaries of ecologies of varies stations along transects, primarily focusing on algal cover and type. The section for the first fieldtrip ends with very detailed notes on the dissection of seven oysters found. A second friled trip to Beacon Island (6/5/79-8/5/79) was accompanied by Clay Bryce, Clive Wilkinson, Dai Roberts and Valerie Roberts, with notes on daily activities focusing on oyster observations.
Type:
Archives
Abstract:

[abridged summary of localities visited and specimens observed collected follows]
5-iv-78
Beacon Island, WA, Transect K
Station K1, Intertidal area; [Plants] - Caulerpa peltata, Padina, Laurencia (grape form), Sargassum. Molluscs - Saccostrea cuccullata dead & alive, another oyster, vermetids


Station K2, About 90% covered in sand; >95% algae <5% coral sponges few ascidians, Caulerpa, Dictyosphaeria, Codium (spongiosum & dead man's fingers), Turbinaria, Sargassum, very fine brown epiphyte on fucoids, Rhodophyceae - mainly Laurencia, crustose corallines - spiky.
Station K3; Caulerpa, Sargassum, Caulocystis, Turbinaria, Dictyota (probably 2 or 3 different species [...]), Rhodophyceae, Laurencia
Station K4; brown algae, Padina, fucoids, sargassum, Caulocystis, Turbinaria, Chlorophyceae, Caulerpa 2 spp, Codium, Rhodophyceae
Station K5; red gelatinous weed (something like Eucheuma), Padina, Hyotissa.
6-iv-78
Beacon Island, WA, Transect G
Station 41C, 2-7m (about 22ft); 30% algae c. coral covering 100% of the bottom. Chlorophyceae - 40% - apart from perhaps fine filmentous epiphytes - which looked unhealthy - Caulerpa peltata & C. racemosa made up green algae, with Caulerpa spp. forming 90% of Siphonales (+2 dimensional form like yesterdays). the brown alagae comprise just about all the rest of the algae (60% with about 80% being small plants of Sargassum few large enough to have vesicles - which were round - stipes were very leafy. rest of brown algae (20% were Padina - not very large thalli. The red weeds were less than 5% - Asparagopsis coming in about 7m. with few hard short deep red forms on dead corals & underneath living corals. one small clump of Pterocladia - type of red under Aerofera mushroom - very few clumps of Codium mamillosum. Zonaria found - 1 clump. Collected Astraea tentoriiformus with large Hipponicids on it - semm to be different species to those from further south - radial grooves (or ribbing) more pronounced.

Station 41D 7-17m
bottom 100% covered by 40% algae c coral (few sponges & ascidians). Reef slope seems to level out at 50 ft (as did Bombie in Goss Passage). The brown algae dominated (90% with Padina about 50% - no very large thalli & 50% Sargassum - more luxuriant growth than in 41C. the Rhodophyceae accounted for the other 10% with Asparagopsis tpye at upper part of zone (& drift broken plants at intervels). A very few Thalli of Peysonnelia (flat rough red) - among Padina in sheltered positions & one plant (large) of Pterocladia found in very sheltered position. Under some overhangs were the iridescent gold thalli of a red which has been found before but probably not identified [sketch of algae] gold on top - red beneath gold sheen fades. there was a very small amount of Caulerpa peltata in this area. Collected some red anemones in 41D in a sandy hollow - attached to dead coral pieces in sand & when expanded some were about 4" in diameter.
41F - [stirred up silt blocked vision]
41E - [...] Collected a very large starfish on the way up - 41E. Liaster leachi - also colony of the coral Alveopora -which has a lovely polyps which stand well out from the skeleton & withdraw when disturbed, the skeleton is fragile & spongey - which crushes easily. Found a white anemone - about 4" in diamerter when expanded - with pink-purple tips to the tentacles (blue in deep water). Barry & Dennis collected some corals & sponges from bottom (41F) - with oysters & such on them.
Friday 7-iv-78
Transect K
Station 5A, 2-7m, upper slope; 100% cover. >50% (probably 60%) algae with coral. Dominated by brown algae - 60% Padina, 40% Sargassum - immature for most part. Crustose corallines in abundance in some places formed large thick clumps of blunt close-set branches. 
Station 5B, lower slope, 7-12m; about 50% going to 5% cover, about 10% of benthos being algae. Dominated by brown algae 80% with 80% Padina and 20% Sargassum. About 20% red algae - fine reds on dead coral, v. small amount of ?Asparagopsis probably Dasya. & v v small amount of Mesotrema ? - coarse network - on dead coral in v sheltered - deep red colour - no gelatinous edge there were large clumps (coarse network) of crustose corallines in the upper part of this station as in 5A. Green algae about 1% - Caulerpa peltata
Station 6, 42-45'; Bttom of hole - fine sand, about <5% covered in algae cover 100% of benthos. Sitting on the surface of the sandy-silt bottom (at 45') were small clumps of Boodleopsis with fine red epiphytes growing on it & directly from surface of sand & on small dead coral debris. There was plenty of drift algae - mostly brown fucoids. I didn't find any red tumbleweed but Barry did - not attached. The green alga certainly formed the bulk of the algae (about 60%) but the fine reds were spread over the greater area - probably accounteing for about 40% of the bulk.
Site 7, On what looked like a coral bombie from thre surface but was really the high spot of a curving ridge which shows out in the aerial photographs.
Station 7A, 2-7m from surface (ie from upper surface of bombie to 7m); 100% cover composed of 80% algae with hard & soft coral & sponges. the algae was about 90% brown - with fucoids forming 60% Sargassum formed 80% & Turbinaria the other 20% with a very small amount (1 large clump) of Dictyota plus 40% Padina. The red algae (5% of the flora) was about 100% Laurencia (large bunches of grapes). The green algae (5% or less) was all Caulerpa racemosa. Loisette got a large cf Mesotrema on the top of the ridge further to the SE - in about 1m of water in open- it was a yellow tan colour - gelatinous edging missing though the laminae shoed no sign of degeneration - though the network was very coarse.
Station 7B, supposed to be 7-12m (actually to 60' 18.3m); 100% cover, 30-40% of it was algae with coral. Algae was 100% brown with about 70% Padina or 30% fucoids of which 100% was Sargassum. However on the bottom - at about 60 feet the algae was 100% red with fine red filementous algae covering the sandy0silt bottom & plenty of red tumbleweed but noe attached.
8-iv-78
Station K8, Bottom of hole - 60'; Cover 1-40%, of which plants formed 100% in one area Halophilla was present in very small amounts otherwise cover was 100% algae. Most of the algae was red (60%) with tumbleweed being the most obvious - not rooted & fine filmentous red algae on sand & rubble. Mixed in with the clumps of tumbleweed was fine brittle brown weed (which looked red at this depth).
Station K9, Bottom of the hole; cover of 0-20-100% in different areas of which algae formed 100%. Reds predominated (90%) with tumbleweed (90%) plus fine red Gelidium (10%) type mixed with it (about 90% of reds) & vv fine filamentary red on sand surface (about 5%). Mixed with the tumbleweed clumps were about 10% brown brittle weed. There were also drift fucoids & Laurencia - apparently healthy. There was in one spot a very small amount of Halophylla.
Station K10A, shallow water -> 1.5m;
Bottom was about 99% covered by 95% algae with coral - no angiosperms. Algae were - 10% greens - formed by 100% Siphonales with Caulerpa (? 4 spp) forming 60% of it and Codium mamillosum the other 40%. -40% browns, 10% prostrate -> short laminate forms Padina & ?Pocockiella (or a large type of Padina). 90% fucoids with 40% Sargassum (2 spp) 40% Cystophyllum 20% Turbinaria. 50% reds, Laurencia types.
Station K10B, 1.5/2m -> 7m; 100% cover of bottom. With algal cover ranging from 80-10% in different places with coral. No angiosperms. Algal cover - 90% brown algae of which Padina & Zonaria from 50-70% and fucoids the rest (100% Sargassum spp). - 10% red algae including Peysonnelia in sheltered positions. 
Station K10C; Bottom 100% covered with algae forming 20% with coral & sponges Algae (no angiosperms) consisted of 95% brown algae with Padina forming 70% and Sargassum forming 30%. The reds (5%) were represented partly by Martensia - v small amount. 
9-iv-78
[...] Goss Passage [...] 100-125' at bottom of the slope N of Transect G; the bottom - corresponding to 41F was about 5% covered at 120ft with less than 10% sea grass Halophylla. What was rest? At the bottom of the slope at the edge of the corral (11oft) there was about 60% cover of about 50% algae with coral. The red (50%) consisted of bucnes of the jointed Gelidiales type & v small pieces of some other type. The browns (50%) consisted of Zonaria, Padina & ?Pocockiella.
Station K11, Sand patch; Cover varied from  5-50%. With degree of algae cover varying from 100 to 85 to 40% of benthos with coral (hard & soft) & sponges. No angiosperms. The algal cover varied in composition greatly. The Chlorophyceae 40->5%, Phaeophyceae 20->60%, Rhodophyceae (100->) 40->35%. The Chlorophyceae varied greatly. Siphonocladiales (Boodleopsis) 100-5%. Siphonales 0->95%. With Codium mamillosum (or spongiosum) at about 40% & Caulerpa (2 spp) at about 60% & some fine filamentous green in sand. The Phaeophyceae; Prostrate forms, Zonaria (& Padina) ranging from from 100% -> 20%. Short laminate Dictyota 0-10%. Fucoids 0-80% consisting of Turbinaria & 2spp of Sargassum, narrow leaf light colour. The red algae consisted of Laurencia & Gelidium spp.
Station K12; The bottom was variably covered from 100%->50%. The Chlorophyceae 50%, Phaeaphyceae 20%, Rhophyceae 30%. Of the green algae the Siphonocladiales (Boodleopsis) - amounted to 70%, and the Siphoniales 30% of which Codium mamillosum formed about 40% & 2 spp of Caulerpa formed 60%. The brown algae consisted of about 90% short laminate forms - mostly Dictyotales - perhaps Dictyota while the fucoids contributed only 10% - being Cystophora (leaved & stems only) Hormophysa (vv little) triquetes. No Sargassum except possibly for some juvenile plants. The red algae consisted mainly of Laurencia sp.
Station K13; Bottom covered -95-50%. With benthos consisting 95-100% algal with coral. Chlorophyceae 20%, Phaeaphyceae 70%, Rhodophyceae 10%. Of the green algae: Siphonocladiales 50%, Boodleopsis. Siphonales 50%, with Codium mamillosum & Caulerpa racemosa. Of the brown algae: Prostrate 10% Zonaria & Padina, Short laminate 30% (Dictyota?), fucoids 70%, Cystophyllum, Sargassum - flat sp., Hormophysa triqueta. Of the red algae: Laurencia - spikey & red, Eucheuma - little, Martensia - little. The oysters seen in this area were Hyotissa hyotis large & Ostrea tuberculata many. 
Station K14, 5-12m; The btoom was covered to about 60% - of the benthos 90% was algae with coral and sponge. The lithothamnion formed large clumps in this area in isolated sheltered postions. Chlorophyceae <5% in the upper part of the zone. Phaeophyceae 90%, Rhodophyceae 10%. Of the green algae Caulerpa formed about 100%. Of the brown algae Padina formed about 30% (prostrate) and the fucoids 70% with Sargassum spp (flat & narrow leaved c round vesicles) 30% each & Cystophyllum 30% (eroded). Of the red algae nearly 100% was of the nonarticulated leafy algae - mainly Peysonnelia & Eucheuma & a flat dicotonous[?] red & flat copper coloured red, the rest was a coralline-type [small sketch of form] - but soft-jointed. O. tuberculata present.
10-iv-78
Station K01 Bottom 100% covered, Intertidal; Of benthos algae formed 100%. Difficult to tell composition - surf pounding in, but brown algae seemed to predominate - sbout 90% or more. With Hydroclathrus - c holes, Turbinaria - vv little & v short, Sargassum vv little & v short, & Liagora being dominant especially in higher areas. C. cuccullata present - abundant on higher peaks of reef.
Station K02, algal area; Cover of 100%. Of which algae  varied from 90-50% as a constituent of the fauna with coral which in isolated areas -> 90%. The lithothamnion cover was nearly 100%, while the leafy algal cover approached 50% overall. Chlorophyceae <5%, Phaeophyceae <100%. Of the green algae, Siphonales 100% with C. spongiosum (or mamillosum) ->60% & Caulerpa (racemosa) -> 40%. Of the brown algae, short laminate Dictyota <5%, fucoids 100%, with 80% Sargassum spp (dark brown v fine leaf, & light brown broad leaf) as well as Cystophilum 20%.
Station K03, Snorkeling only - early too sore for SCUBA.; Cover 100%, of which 95% algae c coral. Non encrusting algae >95%. Chlorophyceae <5%, Phaeophyceae <50%, Rhodophyceae <50%. Of the green algae 100 was of the fine green - perhaps Ulvales or Cladophorales (no sample) & <5% Siphoniales with Caulerpa ?racemosa forming 100%. Of the brown algae, small amount Dictyotales, about 100% fucoids with about 50% Cystophyllum rest (50%) dark Sargassum with a v small amount of Turbinaria. Of the red algae, fine red filamentous reds as epiphytes & on rubble & much Martensia & much Laurencia
I did not do J1 because I couldn't SCUBA five due to bad ears.
Station J2; Cover of 100% of which 50% was algae (c coral) of which 80% was nonencrusting algae & 20%+ was encrusting algae, Chlorophyceae <1%m Phaeophyceae 90&, Rhodophyceae <10%. Of the green algae Siphonales formed 100% with Caulerpa almost 100% & Codium spongiosum less than 5%, Of the brown algae, 30% Padina, 70% fucoids. With 3 spp of Sargassum (dark, light thin leaves & v light v open) forming 100%. Of the red algae the feathery Dasya was the most obvious, but the solid mat of Laurencia was abundant & the fine filamentous reds as epiphytes & on rubble,
Station J3; Cover 100%. (no angiosperm) 50% alg. c coral. Chlorophyceae 40%, Phaeophyceae 40%, Rhodophyceae 20%. Of the green algae: Siphonales 100%, of which 10% Codium spongiosum & 90% large mats of Caulerpa ?racemosa with large amounts of dead weed (all long). Of the brown algae: <10% Padina under ledges, >10% Pocockiella? & 80% Sargassum sp -dark with about 60% Tubinaria. Of the red algae: Laurencia - mats, Pterocladia-type under ledges in sheltered spots - large clumps.
Station J4, Just below LWL; Cover 100%, of which 60% was algae with coral. Chlorophyceae 30%, Phaeophyceae 60%, Rhophyceae 10%. Of the green algae: 100% Siphonales with 10% Codium spongiosum & 90% Caulerpa racemosa. Of the brown algae 100% fucoids, with 50% 4 spp (?) of Sargassum, 20% Cystophora, 40% Turbinaria. Of the red algae: fine filamentous & wiry Laurencia.
11-iv-78
W side of Goss Passage.
G43A upper intertidal - bare rolled[?] coral rubble.
G43B, low intertidal, 0-2m; Cover 100%, of which 100-70% was algae with coral and anemones. Non encrusting algae 80%, encrusting algae 20%+. Chlorophyceae 20%, Phaeophyceae 40%. Rhodophyceae 40%. Of the green algae: 100% Siphonales, with 30% Codium spongiosum & 70% Caulerpa racemosa & v little C. peltata.  Of the brown algae: <10% Zonaria(query this!) about 40% Pocockiella & a very little Dictyota, & fucoids 60% with 2 spp of Sargassum. Of the red algae: Laurencia 2spp, & very little Euchuema. In one patch at about 0.5m there was a dense patch of Mertensia - very short & dense & pale.
Station GE43C, 2m->9m at high tide; Cover 100%, of which 90% was algae c coral. Phaeophyceae 70%, Rhodophyceae 30%. Of the brown algae: 50% Padina, 50% fucoids with 100% Sargassum sp. Of the red algae: Laurencia & Eucheuma.
Station G43E, 16-31m supposedly but actually depth was <31m at bottom of slope; Cover 100%, of which 30% algae (ranging to 60%) with coral at 65'. Phaeophyceae 100. 50% prostrate forms of which 40% Padina & 60% Zonaria. 50% fucoids with Sargassum sp forming 100%.
Station G43F. ay bottom of Channel, 90'->105->110!; Cover of about 5% on silty sand c a starfish, some sponges etc (mixed bag!). Apparently Chlorophyceae 50%, & Rhodophyceae 50% on the bottom of the slope & outlying clumps & rubble. (On the flat 90% of plants were angiosperm Halophila & 10% (sometimes to 50%) were algae - Halophila patchy. Of the green algae: Halimeda - (very large fglat spongey & irregular segments) formed 90% & Siphonales formed about the other 10% - with almost all (as far as bulk goes) being attentuated Codium (dead man's fingers) with few very very fine & long stalks of Caulerpa scalpelliformis on the rubble (with a vv small clump of Codium spongiosum). the rest of the green algae were very sparse - a clump of stiff green bristles, a fine green creeping filament & a flat green form (possibly Siphonocladiales). The red algae were mosly fine filamentous reds with jointed Gelidiales tpye (same sp. but not as many clumps) - which were not as large as on E side of channel. Drift Dasya also common. 
Station J5; Cover 60%, with 95% cover non-encrusting algae. Benthos 85% algae c coral (in places -> 50%). Chlorophyceae 30%, Phaeophyceae 50%, Rhodopyceae 20%. Of the green algae: 40% Siphonocladiales Boodleopsis & 60% Siphonales of which 100% was Caulerpa racemosa - which changed in places to the 2D form. Of the brown algae: 20% Short laminate Dictyota & 80% fucoids c 40% Sargassum spp - flat & narrow & light, 20% Caulocystis, 20% Cystophyllum & 20% Turbinaria. There is also a very small amount of Padina in sheltered positions. Of the red algae most was the species of Laurencia like long barbed wire as well as the long bunches of grapes type (off this species ! got quite a lot of trochids Calliostoma sp like lepidus -red & brown spots - very well camouflaged). Of the green algae there was a vv small amount of Dictyosphaeria & a vv small amount of Caulerpa peltatanote Dictyosphaeria does not seem to be nearly as frequent or as abundant on the transects done previously on other reefs. Took a large sample of Boodleopsis - molluscs mainly dead shells inhabited by amphipods imitating hermit crabs & small green nudibranchs.
Station J6
More than 95% cover, of which approx. 10% was algae with coral, ranging to a cover of 60% with sand of ehich 60% was algae with coral. Chlorophyceae 15% (30% on flat), Phaeophyceae 70%, Rhodophyceae 15% (->0% on flat). Of the green algae: 100% was Boodleopsis with a vv small amount of Caulerpa racemosa. Of the brown algae 5% short laminate (Dictyota) & a vv small amount of Padina. The rest (95%) were fucoids 50% Caulocystis. 25% Turbinaria, & 25% Sargassum spp (flat & 60% thin light) The Red algae range from 15% to 0% on flat. The only place wgere they were abundat was on the dead top of a v large Acropora colony 0 90% short grapes & 10% purplish LaurenciaLaurencia (Trochids from this).
[Station G43B has a write up that has been lined out]
12-iv-78
Station K15, 95-90', very silty bottom at 95' with lower 5' of slope. Cover of 0-40% from 95' to 90'. Of which >95% algae with bryozoa - very few corals & very few sponges. Nothing on silty bottom - no algae or anything - except drift brown algae - algae & bryozoa on rocks at lower part of slope (95-90') werer covered in silt so that they looked like stalactites - could not even see colour. Dead corals (Euphyllia) stood up from bottom without any silt covering, showed white - about 10 corals seen in a very short distance from rope to boat - only one was alive. Only other species of coral seen was a Faviid which was [?]. Rhaeophyceae 20% Prostrate & short laminate 100%, Rhodophyceae 80% all.
[...]
14-iv-79
We all went to Tatler I & Mangrove I. 1 species of ellobiid found in leaf litter at about HW, heaps[?] on around a piece of dead wood lying on muddy sand. There animals were patterned with a nwetwork of red-brown lines. Also with them were very small ellobiids ? mostly white - some pinkish, & also very small gastropods - horny shells about 2-3mm length. This last species was fouind in many sport searched - the v. small ellobiid in some other places searched but only 2 isolated individuals of the larger ellobiid were found other than in this place in about 2 spots seach from HWN->HWS. No Bembicium found alive - plenty of dead shells (found alive outside (yo N of) mangal, on rock outcrops with oysters). S. cuccullata found alive on outcrops of rocks to N of mangal & island as a whole (mangal on N side of island only of W end). None found on island. No oysters in mangal. Some Salicornia (. little) on outside of mangal, to N (island rock rose abruptly behind mangal).
We then went to Mangrove I - mangal is in the same relative position (ie on WW side of island) - There was a small Salicornia flat behind mangal at about HWL. Rock was at about HWL with channels & small caverns in it. Here there was another ellobiid - the banded form - probably a Marinula alive under wood & under stones at about HEL. The unbanded form was not found. - The v small horny gastropods were also found here but not the v, small ?ellobiids. There were also Bembicium under these rocks.
[8 blank pages]
[List of specimens]
#1 O. tuberculata large, #2 O. tuberculata, #3 O. tuberculata, #4 ?Hyotissa sp. (2 prom poss), #5 Hyotissa hytis - pink., #6 Ostrea trapezina - folium, #7 ?Hyotissa sp
13-iv-78
[40 pages of detailed desciptions of dissection of above seven specimens, with sketches, excluding #7 which is briefly described but noted as not yet dissected.
Beacon Island Trip
6-v-79
[notes on travel to Geraldton]
7-v-79
[Notes on travel to Beacon Island]
Went snorkeling in afternoon with Dan on reef flat W of Beacon I. Small oysters just below LWL Hyotissa (2 pronged passages) under ledge at about 2m below LWL. Examined small Gena which apparently had dropped its tail. The hind end of the remaining part of the foot was slightly split & acted in a bifid manner. The mantle extended up from the LHS as a strangely lobed very thin film with papillae on lobes which were lightly pigmented white. The mantle seemed to reach about half-way across shell - but not on to spine. In front of the LHS the mantle was folded to a forward projecting tube -apparently inhalant. On the RHS - further back there is a fold of the mantle forming a backward projecting tube - apparently exhalant. Photos - preserved specimen. Tested siphonal current with carmine suspension - current flow as expected. - v, small tentacles around ventral edges of foot
8-v-79
Went to lee edge of narrowing reef about opposite Split Island - about NE of Split Island in about position of Station 12 on Transect K.;
[...]O. tuberculata but all were fairly small. Most were on faviid corals (brain corals & 2 others) but Clay got a few from a ?Porites clump.
[seven blank pages followed by 10 pages of notes of books and jornal articles relating to oysters]

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Contents:
Field notebook with daily notes covering two field trips to the Abrolhos. The first from 4/4/78 to 15/4/78 accompanied the following; Anne Mitchell (Dept Botany, Uni of SA), John (Director, Herbarium, WA Dept. Agric.), Marion Cambridge (Cockburn Sound
Survey & Dept. Botany UWA), Roy France (Dept. Geol. UWA), Roger Steene (Cairns), from WAM; Gerry Allen, Fred Wells, Loisette Marsh, Barry Wilson, Clay Bryce, and Dennis Devaney (BP Bishop Museum Honolulu). Notes consist of summaries of ecologies of varies stations along transects, primarily focusing on algal cover and type. The section for the first fieldtrip ends with very detailed notes on the dissection of seven oysters found. A second friled trip to Beacon Island (6/5/79-8/5/79) was accompanied by Clay Bryce, Clive Wilkinson, Dai Roberts and Valerie Roberts, with notes on daily activities focusing on oyster observations.
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Location
Library
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Status
Year
Volume
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Archives room
Western Australian Museum
FN306
On Shelf
1978