272 "ALBATEOSS" TROPICAL PACIFIC EXPEDITION. 



Eniwetok, which is more or less parallel with the Ralick Chain, while 

 another line having the same trend is -formed by Ebon and Namorik. 



Parallel with the western face of Taongi, an extensive secondary 

 lagoon has been formed, similar to those we have described at Jaluit, 

 and at many atolls in the Gilbert Islands and the Paumotus. 



Mille is characterized by a small satellite, elliptical in outline, about five 

 miles in length, and two in its greatest width ; its southwestern shore is 

 flanked by large islands, while the northern face of the atoll is indicated 

 by a comparatively bare reef flat. The depth of the lagoon varies from 

 two to three fathoms ; there is an opening on the northwestern face for 

 boats. As will be seen from an examination of the charts, in such atolls 

 as Mille, we find the passages, of which there are a large number, well 

 indicated by great sand spits and sand bars extending far into the lagoon, 

 as for instance the Reiher and Burrh Passages. The islands west of Luku- 

 nor on the south face, and the islands and islets opposite the passage in 

 the southern face all indicate the part which the trades have taken in 

 depositing these bars and islands and shoals near the openings forming 

 the ship channels. The atolls of Wotje, Mille, and Majuro are similar' in 

 outline. The Eniwetok group, on the other hand, is somewhat circular. 

 The islands of its land rim are scattered more profusely on those parts of 

 the reef flat upon which the trades have the greatest influence ; its lagoon 

 is from eighteen to twenty-five fathoms in depth. 



In all the atolls of the Marshall group the slope from the shore on the 

 lagoon side is comparatively steep ; the inner reef flat however varies greatly 

 in width, according to its position near a gap or near a pass, or near the 

 central part of an island of the land rim of greater or less dimensions. 



The atolls of Odia (Ailinglab), Rongelab, Wottho, Likieb, and Rongerik 

 are very similar, with the exception that the spits of Rongelab and Odia 

 turn towards the east, while that of Likieb turns towards the west. The 

 atolls of Aurh, Maloelab, Erikub, and Ailuk are also similar in structure ; 

 their western faces are open to the sea, as is the case in some of the atolls 

 of the Gilbert Islands, like Tarawa and Tapeteuea. Situated on banks of 

 irregular outline, and but imperfectly known, are the islands of Utirik and 

 Taka, the atoll of Bikar, which might perhaps be classed with Aurh. Mejit, 



