Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 2. Human Activities
Draft 1 March 2007
In 1860, Abariringa (Canton) was bonded by the U.S. (Orent and Reinsch 1941). The bond
was filed by Captain Greene of the American brig Agate on behalf of the Phoenix Guano
Company. However, no certificate was issued. According to Skaggs (1994), the U.S. Guano
Company filed a claim to Abariringa (Canton) on February 12, 1859, and received bond
number 9, dated February 8, 1860 (claim filed for Mary’s Island according to McIntire 1960).
All of the Phoenix Islands, except Orona (Hull) were bonded to the American Guano
Company, or its subsidiary, the Phoenix Guano Company (Maude 1952 and 1968).
There was no evidence that any guano was removed from Abariringa (Canton) by Americans
(McIntire 1960; see also Murphy et al 1954). However, according to Grattan (1961)
American worked the guano deposits on Abariringa (Canton). Gardner (1938) noted that
Abariringa (Canton) guano deposits were not rich enough to justify the expense and labor
costs for extraction.
Anon. (1870) provided detailed discussion of the reported and actual locations of Abariringa
(Canton, Mary, Swallow), Rawaki (Phoenix), and Birnie.
Anon. (1871) provided more accurate positions of Abariringa (Mary, Swallow, Canton),
Enderbury, Birnie, Rawaki (Phoenix), McKean, and Orona (Hall). In 1871, sailing directions
for the Phoenix Islands were published (Hempstead 1871). These included: Abariringa
(Mary, Swallow, Canton), Birnie, Enderbury, McKean (Wilkes), Orona (Halls), and Rawaki
(Phoenix).
The Howard de Troop went ashore on Abariringa (Canton) just after the Lorenzo grounded
on Manra (Sydney) (Ellis 1937; see also Rhodes 1936b; Murphy et al 1954). This was in
1884 (Anon. 1940c; 1884-1885 according to Gardner 1938). According to Gardner (1938),
the steam winch of this vessel was still visible on the beach and 61 cm (2 ft) long iron spikes
could be found on the reef where the vessel went aground.
Mr. C.A. Williams transferred his interests in Abariringa (Canton) to J.T. Arundel (Garnett
1983a). By the mid-1880s, John T. Arundel & Company held British leases for untended
American guano islands (Skaggs 1994) including: Birnie, Abariringa (Canton), Enderbury,
Nikumaroro (Gardner), Orona (Hull), McKeans, Rawaki (Phoenix), and Manra (Sydney). All
of these had been claimed by U.S. Guano, but none had been worked by them.
Between 1885 and 1886, Arundel and Co. worked large deposits of phosphate-guano on
Abariringa (Canton) (Anon. 1938e; see also Ellis 1937; Morrell 1960; 1881 to 1891
according to Douglas and Douglas 1994).
A steam launch was used to pull surf-boats loaded with guano to the vessel (Ellis 1937).
Abariringa (Canton) was unusual as the lagoon connected to the sea and small boats could
enter or exit the lagoon at any time. In addition, a small stone pier on the north side of the
lagoon was used (Bryan 1941 and 1942; east side of the lagoon according to Van
Zwaluwenburg 1941; Murphy et al 1954).
Forts on Abariringa (Canton) and Enderbury were built to protect guano diggers (Wright
1951). U.S. guano ships were sometimes pirated by Peruvians.
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