Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 2. Human Activities
Draft 1 March 2007
In 1845, Captain Netcher found the new guano islands (including the Phoenix Islands)
(Anon. 1856). He went ashore and found a grave of a sailor buried by Captain Baker of the
Gideon Howland of New Bedford, who was there 2 to 3 years earlier.
ABARIRINGA (CANTON, KANTON)
Abariringa (Canton) was not on maps published in 1791 (Murphy 1954; see also Gardner
1938).
In 1816, Kotzebue crossed the equator at 175 0 27’ 55” W and was within 55 miles of both
Enderbury and Abariringa (Canton) (Maude 1968). Great numbers of birds were observed,
but no land was sighted.
Abariringa (Canton) was probably discovered prior to 1820 by various ships, primarily
American whalers (Hydrographic Office 1940; see also Hobbs 1945; Schuyler 1940). It was
known by a variety of names such as Mary, Swallow, Mary Balcourt, and Balcout and Bulcot
Island (see also Gardner 1938). Prior to 1820, Captain Balcourt discovered Abariringa
(Canton) and named it after his daughter Mary Balcourt (Wright 1951).
According to Rienzi (1836-1838), Abariringa (Mary) was discovered by a vessel named
Mary (see also Maude 1968).
In 1823 to 1824, Captain Joseph Barney, on the whaler Equator, cruised the area of
Abariringa (Canton), it was speculated that he discovered Abariringa (Maude 1968; see also
Garnett 1983a).
In the 1825 map by English Hydrographer Norie, Mary’s Island was identified (Sharp 1960).
In his 1828 report to the U.S. Navy Department, Reynolds indicated the position of Mary
Balcout’s island and Barney’s Island (Sharp 1960). These all appear to be the same island,
Abariringa (Canton) (Sharp 1960).
In 1841, Abariringa (Canton) was visited by Captain Wilkes and the U.S. Exploring
Expedition (Hobbs 1945).
On March 4, 1954, the whaleship Canton grounded on the reef at Abariringa (Canton) (Anon.
1940c; Cresswell 1939; 1854 and 1872 according to Follett 1943; Searles 1938; March 5,
1954 according to Nicholas 1946; Pompey 1970; see also Anon. 1854a, b, and c; 1855a to e;
and 1939g; Degener and Gillaspy 1955). The Canton was a New Bedford whaleship
according to Murphy et al (1954; see also Oates 2003). The Canton carried 1,300 barrels of
oil (Anon. 1854a; 1854b; 1,050 barrels according to Anon. 1854c; 1,200 barrels according to
Anon. 1855e and d).
All aboard made it ashore (Anon. 1940c; Cresswell 1939). By March 30, after almost a
month on island with no prospects for rescue, Captain Andrew Johnson Wing and his crew
left in 4 boats for the Gilbert Islands (31 member crew according to Searles 1938). They
apparently missed the Gilbert Islands and eventually landed on the Mariana Islands, then
went to Guam. The voyage was 5,370 km (2,900 nautical miles) and took 49 days. The most
detailed account of this mishap was provided by Cresswell (1939), Gardner (1938), and Oates
(2003).
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