The one
name that's
synonymous
with
automotive
safety:

The one
name that's
synonymous
with Volvo
value:

Holiday

Of Shipwrecks,
Fish And Dolphins

DWYER

AND

A 'et

O

s:4P Nai'.4 ,44A:aW

SONS

VOWO/SUBARU

Since 1959

Volvo V-70 GLT

248•824-0400

NEW 1998 ALL WHEEL DRIVE

A Very Happy and
Healthy New Year
To All Our
Customers and Friends

3055 W. Maple Rd. (west of Haggerty), Commerce Twp. 48390

Wishing you a
Happy & Healthy
New Year

• Tips
• Wraps
• Waxing

• Pedicure •
• Soon offering
Massage

.

nis ec.

2802 Franklin • Franklin • 810.626.2457

Harolc4 Caryn, Jessica
and Shelby Rothenberg
and staff wish all ourfriends,
family and customers
a Happy and Healthy New Year

The Boardwalk • W. Bloomfield • 626-7776

with

9/26
1997

42

t

CELEBRATION COME

DIRECTORY
in our Classified Section

♦

Dolphins are often the object ofHaifiz University studies.

CARL ALPERT
Special to The Jewish News

S

cholarly research very often
involves endless hours of
monotonous drudgery and
fruitless experiments, with only
infrequent satisfying positive results.
The scientists working in the Center
for Maritime Studies at the University
of Haifa call upon still another quality
in their activity — a sense of humor.
Perhaps they can do so because of the
relatively successful outcome of many of
their projects in such fields as underwa-
ter archaeology, marine animals, fish-
eries and the like. The latest issue of the
center's news publication illustrates the
good cheer which seems to prevail.
Archeological prying onto the secrets
of the past is fascinating under any cir-
cumstances, but it is all' the more
rewarding when the search is for antiq-
uities lying under sea water, such as
shipwrecks or in areas that have become
inundated since human occupation.
Artifacts which would quickly have dis-
integrated on land are, at sea, often cov-
ered by a coating of what we loosely call
barnacles, which preserve them in
prime condition. Underwater treasure
troves are also free from the depreda-
tions of robbers who so often ransack
sites, sometimes centuries before the
archaeologists get there.
Particularly rewarding have been the
locating of numerous shipwrecks off the
coast of Israel in the Caesarea, Tantura,
Nahsholim area. Some of the hulks
with their contents date back as far as
the Iron Age, the Roman period and
Byzantine times. Through the centuries,
dozens of ships found watery graves

Carl Alpert writes from Haifa.

here. Each vessel requires long hours of
recording and study, both in and out of
the water. Dr. Shelley Wachsman notes
in his report, "Recording them was
both an exhilarating yet exhaustive
experience for all the staff members.
This is perhaps best illustrated by some-
thing that happened on one of the last
days of the excavation. I . came back to
the children's house at Kibbutz
Nahsholim, which was our expedition
center. I happened to be whistling a
tune. Patricia Sibelia was busily record-
ing artifacts. A worried look came over
her face. !You haven't found another
shipwreck, have you?' she asked with
concern in her voice. She was relieved
to hear that we had not."
Professor Ehud Spanier reports on an
interesting experiment to raise fish in
submerged cages in their natural envi-
ronment in the shallow Mediterranean
continental shelf along the coast of
Israel. The fish are cultured, fed and
eventually "harvested" and marketed.
the possibilities are enormous, and what
is know as mariculture of fish may yet
become a major industry.
Another item in the bulletin tells of
two surprise visitors to Israel on election
day last year. Two dolphins swam into
Haifa port, looked around and then
could not locate the narrow opening
leading back out to open sea. The crea-
tures are a special love of our maritime
scientists, especially of Oi Gofman, and
all available resources were mobilized.
The marine police, the Sea Scouts, the
Israel navy, the Port Authority, Tel Aviv
University's Department of Zoology,
workers of Haifa harbor and others
joined in what became a massive herd-
ing maneuver. The dolphins were finally
shown the exit and happily swam out to
sea.

,