0 I 
Affadavit Dec 4, 1858 _ , ftc;7 j „ 
Arthur Benson swore that annexed paper A dated May XO, 10?<> is 
original report to A. G. Benson, Netcher and Taylor. Stated also 
he gave guano to Dr. Isaiah Deck of N. Y. for analysis. 
Affadavit A (see above) May 10, 1857~Letter from Arthur Benson to 
A. G. Benson, Netbher, and Taylor 
"There is 'considerable vegetation on the island; in the centre 
are large bushes" " Birds are very numerous" "Island is 2 miles 
4394 feet long by 1 mile and 90 feet broad, about 15 feet high, 
and slightly concave in the center•” 
--I 
Affadavit—Arthur Benson Feb. 5, 1857 
States he took possession of Howland the above date; witnessed 
by John Paty, Charles H. Judd, and one other. 
Affadavit B (see above) Rept on two types of guano on Howland. 
Ho. 1 Dark Ho. 2 Light 
*fi' I' 
Organic matter- i 
Moisture • \ . 
Mixed Phosphates of Lime and Magnesia 
Carbonate of Lime 
Mixed Alkaline Salts, Potash, and Soda 
Silica, Alumina and Oxide of Iron _ 
17 
8 
62 
7.50 
3.25 
2.25 
11 
5 
74 
5 
5-75 
1.25 
Proportion of ammonia 
Portion soluble in water 
100.00 
.51 
15°/o 
100.00 
.63 
7°/° 
Affadavit—Sept. 8, I 856 --George E. Netcher 
Swore (a) he discovered island on Sept 9> l842(but (2 in date 
is smudged over earlier figure which may or may not be 0.) 
$w<)re also that island was (b)"hitherto unknown not being mentioned 
on any chart or made mention of in any publication" (c) that 
on Feb 12, 1848 he sighted and landed on the island to obtain 
eggs and examine it. (&) swore that island is about 3 l/2 miles 
long and two miles broad extend HUE and SSW (^(sor.~~™fsreace 
to ) (j) that on this visit he was in the 
ship Maine of Fairhaven Mass, and took possession naming it for the 
lookout. (Maine?) (%# it has since been repeatedly visited by 
American citizens., for the purpose of fishing and gathering eggs 
$&.) see below 
V 
