. The coral reefs of the tropical Pacific. Albatross (Steamer); Coral reefs and islands. WiLKKS' Monument, Point Venus, We were of course very anxious to make careful measurements, and to ascer- tain if possible the rate of growth of corals on that bank, as it would give a growth of sixty years. While Captain Moser was engaged in placing his instruments in position on the monument established by Wilkes, I recon- noitred in the steam launch the shoal, which is about half a mile from the shore,and sounded across it in all directions, and carefully examined its surface with a water glass
. The coral reefs of the tropical Pacific. Albatross (Steamer); Coral reefs and islands. WiLKKS' Monument, Point Venus, We were of course very anxious to make careful measurements, and to ascer- tain if possible the rate of growth of corals on that bank, as it would give a growth of sixty years. While Captain Moser was engaged in placing his instruments in position on the monument established by Wilkes, I recon- noitred in the steam launch the shoal, which is about half a mile from the shore,and sounded across it in all directions, and carefully examined its surface with a water glass. I was greatly surprised to find that the Dolphin Bank was really not a coral bank. Only a few di- minutive coral heads (Porites and Pavonia) could be found on it; none larger than my fist. The surface of the bank was covered with fragments of bro- ken coral coated with Nullipores, and no corals were growing on the slopes as they passed into deeper water. It was very evident that unless the conditions have been radically changed in the past sixty years, no one had carefully examined the surface of the Dolphin Bank, as nothing was said either by Wilkes ^ or Dana or the French naval officers of the condition of the corals on the banks. In fact, this part of the shore of Tahiti, as well as the whole of Matavai Bay (PI. 209), is, with the exception of a small reef flat stretch at the extremity of Point Venus, covered with volcanic sand. A more unfortunate selection could not have been made. A very heavy swell is always rolling over the bank, and even in moderate weather is nearly on the point of breaking, so that it is difficult to remain any length of time on the shallowest point of the bank, after it has been found. Our soundings agreed with those of the charts within eighteen inches; as there is a considerable range of tide, it would always be difficult to reduce them to the same plane without prolonged observations. 1 Wilkes' Narrative, U. S. Ex. Ex., Vol. II. p. Please n
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