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V. 
Guano on Enderbury Island in 1938— Photograph by Author 
be indicated by the following. Only recently has guano 
become of interest. In the old reports which acquaint us 
with American Polynesia there is nowhere reference to it, 
even though bird breeding places are mentioned here and 
thfcre. During recent years some ships have found guano 
there in sufficient quantities, but whether or not it might 
be useable or will be found on all the above-mentioned 
islands, remains entirely uncertain. Among the other prod¬ 
ucts regarded as having value is the coconut palm, which 
adorns almost all of these islands, which without exception 
are formed of coral thrown only a little above sea level, 
and for the most part in a peculiar ring form enclosing a 
lagoon, which characterizes the socalled atoll. The example 
of Fanning Island (from which coconut oil has already 
been exported in considerable quantities) proves that the 
coconut palm also can become commercially important. 
Not all the islands of this territory are so favorable as 
this, especially if there is a lack of drinking water. Many 
islands, especially the largest, like Palmyra and Christmas, 
suffer from this, and permanent or temporary colonies are 
necessary to use the coconut palms. Turtles are seen on 
most of the islands, occasionally in great numbers, also 
their waters are rich in fish; at Palmyra was seen a sign 
of pearl shells, and it is possible that the greater part of 
these islands may be similar to the Tuamotu Archipelago 
in this regard, corresponding in natural products. Seven 
are known to be inhabited; the remainder are for the most 
part uninhabited. The Americans may expect great treas¬ 
ures from their new possessions, unless the expectations of 
guano should not be realized; also geography will be ad¬ 
vanced, it is hoped, by a thorough exploration of the 
entire territory.” 
The author proceeds to discuss Christmas Island, Fan¬ 
ning Island, Washington Island, Palmyra Island; reports 
of various islands between Palmyra and the Gilbert archi¬ 
pelago, of which Baker and Howland are the only ones 
now known to exist; Makin and Maraki Islands in the 
Gilbert group; the Phoenix and Tokelau or Union groups, 
quoting at length from the U.S. Exploring Expedition; 
Swains Island, Nassau Island, Penrhyn,- Wostock, Flint, 
Caroline, and Jarvis Islands, and a few others long since 
expunged from the chart. Mention is made of the occupa¬ 
tion of Clipperton Island by the French; and also of the 
expansion of “Kamehameha’s Kingdom” through the ex¬ 
plorations of Captain Paty and others to Johnston Island 
and the northwestern chain. The last few pages are de¬ 
voted to island groups in the western Pacific. A chart lo¬ 
cates the many islands, real and unreal, and outlines the 
area of “American Polynesia.” 
In reading the descriptions and discussions, one is sur¬ 
prised to see what a lot of geographical information about 
these islands had been accumulated prior to 1859, and how 
comparatively little was added until within the past 
decade. Looking backward over the intervening 80 years, 
we can see the rise and decline of the guano industry, for 
which Herr Behm had such hopes, and the gradual aban¬ 
donment of these many islands. Now a new era is at 
hand, in which some of these islands are destined to play 
an important part as stepping stones and meteorologic 
stations for a great network of trans-Pacific aviation, a 
development of which Herr Behm little dreamed. 
On April 1, 1937 this magazine suggested that “an In¬ 
ternational Surboard Contest or an Outrigger Canoe 
Championship could be pulled off,” and The Pacific 
Aquatic Carnival last month in which Am erica-Hawaii 
competed with British-Australia, saw both events happen. 
BEACH COMBER 
By C. C. Robinson 
He comes from Maine or Zanzibar 
To eke his life out by the sea. 
He flees from woman, crime or debt, 
And lives at best precariously. 
To eat and drink and then forget 
Is all he asks for being free. 
French Foreign Legion—not for him; 
Rather the sunny beach, and shade 
Of leaning palm trees, and the dim 
Sight of ships that rise and fade 
Along the far horizon’s rim,— 
And death in some free hospital 
A bed with sheets too neat for him. 
