Bequia Easter Regatta 2008 - Caribbean Compass

APRIL 2008 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 40
ELAINE OLLIVIERRE 2008 ©
The Wedding
of Mermaid
Merry and Gem
by Lee Kessell
A whole year had passed since Merman Marcus and his lovely wife, Mother
Mermaid, had celebrated their wedding anniversary with the grandest ball that anyone
on the reef had ever been to. If you were there you would know that Merman
Marcus, like all of his kind, lived in the deeps of the sea where all was calm, while
Mother Mermaid, who had pined for her sunny coral home had opted to return to
the reef. This didn’t mean that they had ceased to love each other, not a bit of it! No,
they often spent time together but each felt happiest living where they did — one in
the pearly moon deeps, the other on the sun-spangled reef. They had promised to
have an even grander ball this year and so Gem, their son who had been courting
Mermaid Merry all year — although she had made up her mind to marry Gem the
night of the ball — had decided to make it a double celebration. Gem and Mermaid
Merry would have their wedding and ball together.
Mother Mermaid and Merman Marcus thought this a splendid idea and preparations
had been going on for weeks. First, Mermaid Merry had to have the most beautiful
wedding dress ever created, so of course she asked Mr. Needlefish to make it for
her. Merry had caught her gorgeous golden ball gown on a coral snag going to last
year’s ball and Mr. Needlefish had sewn the jagged rent together with such fine
stitches of gold thread that it was impossible to see where the tear had been. Mr.
Needlefish was now making Merry a white gown, with a swirling skirt fine as sea
foam. The bodice was fitted tightly to Merry’s slender figure. It had little puff sleeves
and a sweetheart neckline and the whole thing was embroidered with pearl teardrops,
silver sequins and rainbow bubbles as small as grains of sea rice. Pure white
netted sea drift had been woven into a short bridal veil that fell to Merry’s shoulders
and it was pinned to her long red hair that curled all about her face, with the blossoms
of soft coral. Moonbeams had been captured and these were woven into the
wedding veil making it glitter with every movement.
So, here it was at last, the morning of the wedding. Merry had spent a long time
getting ready in her coral cottage and she had many willing helpers. The glassy
sweepers acted as her mirrors, Angelfish and Damsels fussed about and Mr.
Needlefish was on hand to make sure that his most magnificent creation fitted correctly
with just a little stitch added here and there. When Merry was dressed at last,
Mr. Needlefish stood back and grunted with pleasure; yes, this was his finest hour
and he felt sure he would never surpass it.
Merry’s bouquet was a beautiful combination of white leafy Scroll Blades, the edges
PROUDLY SPONSORED BY PETIT ST. VINCENT RESORT
Hello! My name is Do ly and my home is in the sea.
DOLLY’S DEEP SECRETS
by Elaine Ollivierre
For several months, we have been looking at the various organizations which
are working towards a better understanding of the oceans and seas of the world.
This month, let’s look at one of their findings.
News items from early February 2008 reported the amazing journey of a leatherback
turtle from where it was first tagged on a beach in Indonesia across the
Pacific Ocean to the west coast of the USA and almost back to Hawaii. A distance
of 12,774 miles (20,588 kilometres) was measured in 647 days! This is a record
for the longest recorded migration through the ocean. After that, the turtle didn’t
stop swimming, but the battery on its tagging device ran out! So data about the
turtle’s journey stopped transmitting. Just imagine how much more impressive
the long distance record would have been if the technology hadn’t failed!
Leatherbacks are the largest turtles in the world. They measure six feet (two
metres) or more in length and weigh, on average, around 1,300 pounds (600
kilos). They don’t have a shell like other turtles do, but the tough skin over the
back bones gives the leatherback its name. They are found in all oceans and can
withstand hot and cold temperatures at sea.
Leatherback turtles are considered to be critically endangered. Increased
awareness of the nesting patterns of the leatherback has led to increased populations
in some areas. For example, in the Caribbean, Earthwatch’s Saving the
CRUISING KIDS’ CORNER
touched with soft green. The delicate scrolls were curled around the ruffled discs of
small white and green Mermaid’s Wine Glasses, each one holding a glistening blue sea
pearl. When a silver flyingfish blew the tiny moonbeams he had captured the night
before onto the bouquet it seemed to dance in the filtered light of the sun shining down
upon the reef. Everyone was spellbound when Merry picked up her bouquet and her
smile outshone all of the sun, moon and star spangles flashing about her.
Scores of brightly coloured reef fish — including Butterfly Fish clothed in gold and
black, Chromis aglow in sapphire blue, Hamlets in royal purple, Parrotfish in turquoise
scales and Wrasse decked out in their best rainbow finery — escorted the
bride to the wedding chapel high on top of the coral reef.
Bridegroom Gem, all dazzling smiles himself was waiting for Merry at the altar.
Gem of course had spent ages on his costume too! He had chosen to wear Royal Blue
with golden suns embroidered on his long tunic and his curly black locks that
framed his handsome face were held in check with a coronet of gold. This was a gift
from his father who had found a treasure chest deep in the sea many years ago.
Merman Marcus had looked forward to this day when he would crown his son with
the golden coronet and present his new daughter-in-law with long ropes of pearls
and emeralds. For his own wife he had chosen as her anniversary gift a fabulous
necklace of deep red rubies and pink diamonds.
Butterfly Fish clothed in gold and black,
Chromis aglow in sapphire blue, Hamlets
in royal purple, Parrotfish in turquoise scales and
Wrasse decked out in their best rainbow finery…
Ready to begin the wedding ceremony ceremony, a wise old Cardinal Fish in flame red waited
with Gem, while every fish and creature from near and far hovered around to see their
favourites wed at last! You can imagine the sighs of happiness that blended into a soft
sea song all during the exchange of vows. Gem and Merry said nothing about “obeying”
each other. What an old-fashioned notion! No, Gem and Merry believed in love and that
was enough for them. Kisses were exchanged all round and Mother Mermaid hugged the
newlyweds until Merman Marcus demanded that he be given a turn.
But now it was time for the feast and ball to begin and the proud parents led the
way to the tables laden with nearly every sort of seafood you could imagine. Plates
were heaped high but before the guests fell to, every chalice was raised high in honour
of Merman Marcus, Mother Mermaid, Gem and Merry. Toasts were made, the
guests clapped loud and long and then the feast began in earnest.
Just like at the last ball, some of the older folk drifted off to sleep after they had
stuffed themselves as full as possible, but the young couples danced until the stars
came out over the reef, shedding silver starlight down upon the party. You can be
sure that the dancing and merry-making went on far into the night.
Before the new day began, everyone went home, little children carried by fathers
and the old folk led by the youngsters. Merman Marcus went with Mother Mermaid
to her palace in the reef and Merry took Gem home with her.
Now, the big question is, where were Merry and Gem going to live so that each
could be happy with the other forever after? They had arrived at the perfect solution
months before when Gem had chanced upon a beautiful seamount rising from the
deep water. But you’ll just have to wait till next time to hear all about the seamount
home of Mermaid Merry and Merman Gem. In the meantime, we’ll let the happy
couple enjoy their honeymoon.
THE END
Leatherback Turtle project in St. Croix, USVI, has seen a big increase in the
number of nesting leatherbacks there and in the number of hatchlings that survive.
However, in the western Pacific Ocean, the number of leatherbacks is estimated
at about 5,000, down from an estimated 91,000 twenty-odd years ago.
What is killing them?
Like other turtles, leatherbacks nest on a beach. Only the females come ashore.
They use their massive flippers to dig a big hole in the sand where they lay about
80 eggs. If the nests are found by predators, then the eggs will be eaten and no
baby leatherbacks can hatch. The adult turtles are also hunted for their meat.
But the biggest dangers to the survival of these wonderful creatures are the hazards
of the open sea. Thousands drown when they become entangled in fishing
nets. Others swallow plastic bags because they look like their usual food, jellyfish.
The plastic clogs up their digestive systems so they starve.
Tagging the leatherbacks will give information vital to their survival. Now that
scientists are recognizing how many countries are visited by leatherbacks, they
also recognize the global effort needed to keep them alive.