Jan. 6th 
1861 
Sunday 
Jan. ?th 
Jan. 8th 
Jan. 9th 
Jan. 10th 
Jan. 11th 
Day passes off as usual. Soaring surf. 
Wheeeling guaho over railway stuff. Surf fearful to look at on the (?) 
beach but as the sands shift round to the other side the facilities are right 
for shipping from there. 
Men at work as usual wheeling guano etc. Surf still increasing. Raft 
went adrift from middle buoy. 
Surf perfectly terrific. Weather the same as usual; fine and clear overhead, 
with a gentle breeze from the Eastward. The surf evidently is independent 
of any influence of weather etc. in this neighborhood. The sea rolls in from 
the N.W. which is the case all the winter months making a current near 
shore which carries the sand to the South beach which is the lea side so far 
as surf is concerned. While the surf on the West-beach is fearful to look 
at running to within a few feet of the top of the island — it is smooth 
on the Sout£ side. (Brit.?) ship Harrison (Flood?) hove in sight about 
noon. Went off got some new papers — heard of the loss of the Silver 
Star at Jarvis also some election returns indicating the election of 
Lincoln Pres, of the U.S. etc. Brought Capt. on shore where he stayed 
two or three hours and went off 4 P.M. of course all from the S* beach. 
The remaining pair of shears went down early this morning. A cask of 
copper about 500 lbs. weight lieing at the weighhouse was taken by the 
surf. Whale-ship passed at sun-down. 
Surf about the same. Men at work as usual. 
Surf abates somewhat but still very rough. Men at work as usual. 
Jan. 25th 
1861 
Jan. 26th 
Saturday 
+ •••*•««#<»»»# 
At 9 O'clock sight Howland Island. Mr. Judd boards us at 11 and we come to 
the mooring at 12 N. I explore Howlands pretty well and am satisfied there 
is an immense quantity of quano on it. It lies North and South in length 
about two miles and average breadth about 5/8 of a mile- bending slightly so 
as to make a sort of bay on the West side which of course is the best 
landing. At the north end is the highest point about 20 feet above 
high water level• The facilities for shipping are good. 
Leave Howlands late at night - the Josephine having finished her business• 
Sight Bakers Island early this morning and at the same time a clipper ship; 
Jan. 2?th 
