35 
for the island. 
Elschner ( ibid .) reported that the entire surface was partially 
phosphatized, there being a more or less fine film of phosphates on all 
sand particles. He noted that the former lagoon was visible as a basin, 
and that the best guano was found in this area. Phosphate determinations 
[as Ca^BpOg in the original] by Elschner varied from 2.12 to 11.12 percent 
in surface sand and from 14.24 to 62.17 percent in the area of the former 
lagoon. Walker (1909) estimated that there were 1000 tons of guano on the 
island in June I 89 I, but Elschner (op. cit. ) notes that only the best guano 
had been shipped prior to his visit in September 1914. Guano operations 
were conducted on Lisianski from about 1903 to 1908. 
Climate 
Climatic data for this area of the Pacific are available only from 
Midway Waval Station, 255 miles northwest of Lisianski. Ho significant 
difference is expected between the general weather conditions of the two 
islands. The data used in this section are from a summary of the years 
1953~1963 (WavSta Midway Forecast Handbook and Air Weather Service, [MATS] 
Climatic Center USAF). 
Climate in this region of the Pacific is marine, influenced by marine 
tropical or marine Pacific air masses depending upon the season. During 
summer the Pacific High becomes dominant, with the ridge line extending 
across the Pacific north of Midway. ' This places the region under the 
v 
influence of easterlies with marine tropical and trade winds prevailing. 
During the winter, especially from November through January, the Aleutian 
thaw moves southward over the Worth Pacific, displacing the Pacific High 
>> 
before it. The Midway region is then affected by either marine pacific 
or marine tropical air, depending upon the intensity of the Aleutian Low 
