* 
She largest oount.v on earth, 
Dwellers In some of our western states spealc in bragging terms 
of the size of certain counties within their domain* but their expanses 
of desert appear-Insignificant when we learn that Johnston Island* seven 
hundred miles southwest of Oahu is included oasually in Honolulu Oounty. 
Johnston Island is seldom visited. Sampan fishermen from Honolulu at 
times come here but more often are unable to locate the island as adverse 
currents frequently throw them from their course* and aside from the 
fishing there is little there to attract casual visitors. 
We the island one forenoon in July* locating it first by 
A. 
fcfc# greenish shimmer ^of rorleotetT light from the 1 agooi \ in the alcy, and 
finally sighting the land as a yellowish haze that f inally ; was resolved 
into a low island with a small hill on one end* the whole oovered with 
clumps of grass and other plants. Landings here are made easily only at 
high tide* as when the tide ebbs extensive flats of limestone and ooral 
that effeotually blocA the passage of boats are exposed off shore. 
The main island has a loose sandy soil overlying a slightly elevated 
ledge of limestone. A mile oast lies a smaller bit of land Known as Sand 
Island, and beyond are extensive flats of ooral and limestone as was 
determined by a naval hydroplane brought along with our ship to males 
photographic maps of the islands and the surrounding reefs. 
