I* «g» ) 
f 
arrived at Qtaa, son© 3260 mile® to the werfe-aorthwoat • la 1872 , 
Ctoaandor R.W.Moade, of tho U.S.S.Harragansott, who suxvayed the Island during 
om of hie cruises through the eossfcral P&sifio la search of Bully 3 * Bayag, tho 
notorious pinto and blaokbirde?, named it Coates Island to comma® rate tho 
& csveutura # 
Although claimed ly American guano diggers, under provisions of tho Qmm 
Aot of 18S6, Canton does not seem to hare boon worked by thee* A little guano 
was dug by John T* Arundel Co*, a London firm, 1888 to 1888* They built a 
nail stone pier into the lagoon from tho site of their digging on the north 
rim, and transported the guano in small, flat-bottomed boats across the lagoon* 
and close along tho south shore, to tho ontraneo, where it was transshipod to 
schooners and other vessels. 
In 1889 the island was leased to tho ftaelfle Islands Co*, but sot developed* 
la 1918 it was among the islands leased to Captain Allen, of the Samoan Shipping 
and Trading Co* He planted a few ooeonut palms, of whieh ton survive. But 
otherwise tho so mpa ay apparently made no use of this island. 
The writer visited Canton with a soieartifio expedition from the American 
Museum of Batumi History, in Maroh, 1984, spending several day® in making 
natural history eolleotiona* He again visited the island July 88 and 8?, 19S8, 
on a trip of the TJ*S*Coast Guard Cutter Taney, at which time the light horn 
and throe companions 
dedicated. In 1988, when Captain Kingsford-Steith -mm flying the Southern 
K 
it m 
*.* r 
from Hawaii to Fiji, the writer was able to furnish him with maps, photographs 
and information as to how he could make an emergency landing on the 
ate western portion of tfcf northern rim. Fortunately he did not have to ws&m. 
try out this landing, although in ordinary weather it would bo quite feasible. 
Canton broke into th® news in 1987, when American and Bow Zealand eolipso 
\ 
expedition* chose it as a spot from which to view the total eclipse of the sun 
of JUly 8* Enough radio and other publicity was produced to put any spot on tho 
map. 
