Ecology of Marcus Island— SAKAGAMI 
103 
1898: In July, the Tokyo Prefectural Office 
claimed the island as a Japanese depend- 
ency, named it Minami-Torishima (South 
Bird Island), and incorporated it into the 
Ogasawara Section (the Bonins) of To- 
kyo Prefecture (Yoshida). In September, 
tenanting the island from the Tokyo Pre- 
fectural Office, Shinroku Mizutani began 
the skinning of sea birds, aided by the in- 
vestment of Shichigoro Kamitaki, a trader 
in Yokohama (Yoshida) . Haruzo Ogawa, a 
lieutenant in the second reserve of the 
Japanese Navy, called the inhabitants of 
Hachijozima and of the Bonins to Marcus 
Island for help in skinning the sea birds 
( Matsubara ) . 
1899-1902: According to grave posts (now 
missing), three Japanese died in the island 
during these years (Matsubara). 
1901: In October a violent typhoon attacked the 
island for 10 days, sending the sea as far 
as 22 ft. above the normal level (Bryan). 
1902: Hearing of Captain Rosehill’s expedition 
(see below), the Japanese Government 
sent the cruiser "Kasagi” to the island. Aki- 
yuki Toyoguchi, a sub-lieutenant, landed 
with 15 men (July 27). Captain Rosehill 
arrived at the island on July 30, accom- 
panied by Dr. Bryan and Mr. Sedgwick, in 
order to claim it as a U. S. territory, but 
left on August 5 because of its occupation 
by the Japanese Navy. Bryan and Sedgwick 
made a scientific survey of the island dur- 
ing the 5 days. August 28, the Japanese 
Government sent another cruiser, the "Ta- 
kachiho.” S. Kamitaki (a trader mentioned 
above), S. Shiga, M. P., and O. Yoshida, 
a geologist, landed. Two Japanese shrines, 
Kotohira and Ohtori, were built there 
("Tengaisei”). September 2, a typhoon 
passed over the island. All inhabitants 
sought safety at the highest point. Until 
December 25, no food other than birds 
and fish was available. Sixteen died during 
this period (Nakada). In September, the 
Japanese Department of Foreign Affairs 
again claimed the island for Japan. The 
following publications appeared: Plants of 
Marcus (Yabe), Miscellaneous notes on the 
geology and topography (Yoshida) , Chron- 
icle of a journey to the island ("Tengaisei”). 
1903: Shiga published an essay describing the 
discovery of this island. He asserted its im- 
portance from the national standpoint. 
Bryan’s comprehensive monograph was 
published. Han-emon Tamaoki, a Japanese, 
went to the island to collect coconuts but 
left without success (Matsubara). 
1906-16: Many Japanese were landed for phos- 
phate mining. Nineteen died during these 
years (Matsubara). 
1930: In November, all 32 inhabitants, who had 
been engaged in coconut collecting and 
fishing, left the island (Matsubara). 
1931: The island was purchased by the Japanese 
Navy ( Matsubara ) . 
1935: The Hydrographical Department of the 
Japanese Navy began meteorological ob- 
servations ( Matsubara ) . 
1937: Establishment of the Japanese Navy air- 
port commenced (Matsubara). 
1938: Tuyama published his Flora of Marcus 
Island. 
1939: February 22, a large flock of terns visited 
the island. March 15-16, a large flock of 
"swallows” passed through. Terns and 
swallows appeared also in autumn (Ma- 
tsubara ) . 
1941: The island was armed with six 15 cm. 
cannons and six 8 cm. aeroguns (Matsu- 
bara). Japan declared war upon the United 
States. 
1942: March 4, the island was bombed by 40 
U. S. carrier-based planes (Matsubara). 
1943: A garrison consisting of 1,100 navy, 2,250 
army, and 650 civilian personnel was in- 
stalled with M. Matsubara as commander. 
1944: May 20-21, bombed by 132 U. S. car- 
rier-based planes. October 9, bombarded 
by a U. S. naval squadron consisting of 
one battleship (Pennsylvania type), two 
heavy cruisers (Pensacola type), and five 
large destroyers (Matsubara). 
1945: Received 171 attacks by a total of 759 
bombers from September, 1944, to the 
armistice on August 15, 1945. October 7, 
the Japanese garrison left the island (Ma- 
