There are four or rive large clubs , one of -which we were able to work 
successfully after moonset. The other men tried for blood samples of cats 
and boobies. The cat population is down a great deal since March when over 
200 were exterminated. Only a dozen were caught last night. They live in 
holes in 5 1 furrows of guano near the lighthouse and feed mainly on sooty 
terns , sometimes on frigates. Several use a wrecked Japanese fishing vessel 
as hideout. 
Bird catching became very difficult at first light and we returned to camp 
before setting out to finish banding the blue-faced and red-foot nestlings on 
the S shore. After finishing that we went after cats - Paul and I each ran 
dorn two and Fred shot three. Though the population is very low it will be 
difficult to eliminate since there are many hiding places that can only be 
discovered by chance. 
Returned to camp and rested until dark when island-wide booby banding 
expedition No. 2 was launched. Most of us banded until dawn, which should not 
be done too often in one lifetime. 
17 November 
Paul and I staggered in around 6:30 AM from banding and found the others back. 
Slept till past 11. Some greater frigates were collected which we skeletonized 
in the afternoon. Ships crew came in to explore our tantalizing island - they 
could resist no longer. 
Yesterday Paul reported seeing a sander ling and a Christmas Island shear- 
water - both possible records for the island. 
After dark everyone went booby banding which is rapidly losing its appeal. 
18 November 
The sun came up early this morning and remained up for the remainder of 
the day. "While it was doing this Paul and I skeletonized blue-faced boobies. 
Also in the morning we poisoned the reef on the SW curve of the island. In 
this area the reef is quite old with tunnels, deep pools, and large hollows. 
It has more algal growth than that of the other islands visited, and noticeably 
fewer crabs than most. The crabs were a different species, about l/3 the size 
of those found on Baker. 
The fish were tupical - Isurgeons, Abudefdufs , butterfly fish big-eyes, 
? , etc. Found several new species. The surf was rough and fish did not wash 
in as well as at McKean for instance; lost many specimens in the great foamy, 
and almost several collectors. 
Skinned and skeletonized. Crew came in with beer. Good. 
After dark all after boobies and cats again. Clubs impossible and single 
birds difficult without a booby-snatching stick. Brings total to a paltry 
1^00 due to full moon all night at this point. 
19 November 
Went out to E L LIPAN with the 8 o 1 clock boat run to run Berlese samples. 
Enjoyed a good lunch for a change. The other made a shorebird count. Did odd 
things in the afternoon and went out for boobies right after dark. The full 
