Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 2. Human Activities
Draft 1 March 2007
Club (1954) provided a summary and diagram of different types of Gilbertese sailing canoes
(te wa).
In 1955, there were about 300 to 400 people living on Abariringa (Canton) (Anon. 1955a).
Half were British, and half were Americans. Walker (1955) reported the population of
Abariringa (Canton) as 280.
Walker (1955) reported observing a rust-encrusted part of the original Canton wreck still on
the beach.
In 1955, there were three oil companies operating on Abriringa (Canton) (Degener and
Gillapsy 1955). There were also three fishing companies operating. One of the fishing
companies exported 8,157 kg (17,984 pounds) of fish to Hawaii in July 1950.
Degener and Gillaspy (1955) reported that there were four carriers operating through
Abariringa (Canton) including: Pan American World Airways, British Commonwealth
Pacific Airlines, Canadian Pacific Airlines, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Civil Aeronautics
Administration. There were 14.67 flights per week carrying 220 passengers, or 762.67 flights
per year carrying 11,440 passengers.
Degener and Gillaspy (1955) reported that the U.S. Civil Aeronautics Administration had 9
ships visit Abariringa (Canton) per year. There were 4 oil company ships and 3 Gilbert and
Ellice Islands ships that also visited Abariringa (Canton) annually (16 vessels per year).
Melamid (1955) noted that Abariringa (Canton) was one of only a few places in the world
where the U.S. dollar could be exchanged 1:1 with the British pound. Transactions, however,
were limited to personal requirements.
There were some attempts to clean up abandoned infrastructure left by the U.S. military after
World War II (Walker 1955; see also McIntire 1960). However, much work still remains to
clean up the island.
After 1955, the Pam American Airways hotel was abandoned (McIntire 1960). By 1958, it
was in shambles (Degener and Degener 1959; see also McIntire 1960).
There was a weather station on Abariringa (Canton) that was manned by 7 men (Degener and
Gillaspy 1955; see also McIntire 1960). In addition, there was a post office in the airport
terminal building (McIntire 1960). The British post office was located on the south side of
the boat channel in the British area with a branch at the airport terminal.
Robson (1956) reported a population of 320, of which 115 were natives. In addition to the
airport, there were two fishing companies operating from Abariringa (Canton).
In 1956, the Caronia that was salvaging the President Taylor caught fire in the lagoon
(Degener and Degener 1959; see also Oates 2003). In 1957, the Coast Guard towed the
wreck of the Caronia out to sea and sank her. Abariringa (Canton) residents mourned the
loss of the Caronia as a fishing platform (Oates 2003).
The population of Abariringa (Canton) was about 300 (Witherspoon 1957). In 1957, the
population of Abariringa (Canton) was 341 (McIntire 1960).
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