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That they enjoyed the life is shown by the fact that many of the same boys 
volunteered over and over again. 
The choice of colonists has been a good one, and in every respect 
these young men have measured up to their task of living happily on 
barren, isolated islands three to several months at a stretch. 
The islands have been visited by U.S. Coast Guard cutters at intervals 
of about three months, with food, water, equipment and changes of per¬ 
sonnel. In addition to the Itasca, the Duane, Shoshone and Taney have 
made these trips. 
The camps have been improved steadily, from the initial tents to 
the present substantial wood and stone buildings. The colonists have 
been liberally paid and carefully provided for, each camp now having 
radio and refrigeration. 
The colonists have been kept busy with routine duties, including the 
daily recording of meteorological data, the construction of airfields and 
lighthouses, cooking and housekeeping. Fishing has been good and wor¬ 
ries few. 
Proclamation by President Roosevelt, May 13, 1936, transferred 
jurisdiction over the islands from the TJ.S. Department of Commerce to 
the Division of Territories of the U.S. Department of the Interior. In 
July, 1936, Richard B. Black arrived in Honolulu as representative in 
charge. 
Learning of these American activities, the British hastened to visit 
the equatorial islands and reassert their sovereignty, during 1936 and 
1937. 
4 MAM An American party on the U.S.S. Avocet, and a New Zealand party 
on H.M.S. Wellington, both established camps on Canton Island to ob¬ 
serve a tocal eclipse of the sun, June 8, 1937. Each party erected a con¬ 
crete monument displaying the flag of its nation. 
In August, 1937, H.M.S. Leith visited Canton and landed men, 
building material, and radio equipment. In March, 1938, the Taney 
$7 AWMtlaced parties of American colonists on both Canton and Enderbury. 
Contrary to news reports published at the time, there was no “armed 
resistance,” and both parties have lived side by side with the best of 
relations. In April, 1939, final details were announced for the joint 
occupation and use of Canton and Enderbury by British and Americans 
for fifty years. 
Pan-American Airways has pioneered the air route from Hawaii to 
New Zealand. During March and April, 1937, Captain Edwin C. Musick 
made a trial flight in the Sikorsky seaplane, Hong Kong Clipper, via 
Kingman Reef and Pago Pago to Auckland, and return. In December, 
1937, Captain Musick made a second trial flight over the same route, 
using the Samoan Clipper. On the next flight south, this plane burned 
near Pago Pago, on January 11, 1938, destroying the lives of this in¬ 
trepid trans-Pacific flier and crew of six. 
Pan-American has now constructed an airport on Canton Island, 
similar to those at Midway and Wake; and the present southern route, 
over which an initial flight was made with a 72-passenger Boeing Clip¬ 
per in August, 1939, is via Honolulu, Canton Island, and Noumea, New 
Caledonia. Service temporarily is curtailed by war. 
The British, under the joint agreement, have equal rights to use the 
Canton lagoon, but the war has held up their plan for an air route from 
Australia to Canada. 
