(Canton I* -2- ) 
basin* upon whioh the Ban-Amorioan Trans—Paeifio clippers alight* las boos 
freed of these reefs by extensive blasting* 
The lagoon contains many kinds of fishes* crabs* eckinoderas, and other 
groups of marine life* Sea shells also may be picked up along the beaches* or 
found living on the reefs and sandy bottoms* Within the coral Heads live whole 
* 
communities of marine organ!s. By placing pieces of eoral head on a oanvss* 
and slowly breaking M up* many species of orabs* shells* marine worms* and even 
little fishes have been found* which occur nowhere else* In the open sea* off the 
west side of the island* are eaught ulna* tuna* ono (or wahoo) and other gr«o 
fishes* There is comparatively little seaweed on the reefs or shores* 
The bird life is described in more detail below. It consists entirely of 
sea and migratory species, about 28 different kinds* Other land animals include 
the Polynesian rat* 11 sards* hew&t orabs* and a variety of insects* none of 
whieh ail harmful or annoying to man* Turtles occasionally come up onto the 
sandy beaohee to lay their eggs* 
HI STOSS’ OF 0AJ3T0S 
Canton Island was discovered independently by several ships* most of them 
American whalers* It was for them a frequent haven during the period of extensive 
whaling* 1820-1380* Despite its lack of water and trees* it presented a fair 
anchorage* and a place where parties could get ashore and stretch their legs* 
Also, they eotild procure green herbs* if troubled with seurvyj and birds and. 
their eggs, as well as shore fishes* provided a welcome addition to diets of 
*salthorse. n The variety of names* including Mary* Swallow* and Mary Baloout* 
bear withesa to some of these early "disooveries", the first of which was well 
before 1320* The British olaim a visit by H.M.S* Cunaeoa, Captain Gibson* during 
the 1350*s* 
The rmm Canton ease late, but stuck because of the drum tie si mvmimmm 
connected with it* On Marsh 4* 1884, the Hew Bedford whaleship Canton* Captain 
Andrew J* Wing* piled up on its reef* After a brief stay on the island* the 
Cejytein and crew is their ©pea hosts* and after 4$ ckysi of terrible prMmUesm 
