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Wetmore - Journal 
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April 6 - Off French Frigate Shoals. 
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April 7 ~ Off Baysan at five P.M. - "At fire P.M. we sighted the 
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two coconut trees on Laysan 
" It was with mingled feelings that I swept Laysan with ray glasses. 
As we lay a half mile away it presented merely a barren sand island 
rising a few feet above the water. Two coconut trees that rose in front 
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on a half a dozen low tumble down buildings with a low bush or at 
either side were the only signs of vegetations. Birds were everywhere 
but there was no sight of green. Grave fears for the smaller birds 
passed through my mind and it seemed inevitable that the Teal, miller bird, 
rail, Himatione and finch had perished. 
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"Laysan Albatross passed continually, frigateS birds soared over 
eyeing us curiously with hosts of four species of terns and two of shear¬ 
waters passing on all-hand. " 
April 8 - Start ashore a 8AM with Comm. King, Dr. ®&11 and Reno. 
"Sand had drifted in among them (refereing to the buildings of the 
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guano works)partly filling the porch on the larger one and drifting^great 
heaps had half filled several of the rooms. Two coconut trees in front 
had in some strange way weathered the brunt of the encroaching sand and 
stood free thfougjjmore or less bent and scarred. 
" Birds were everywhere, four or five laysan albatross stood on the 
sand of the porch with a fuzzy youngster hal£ grown at the corner. Hawaiian 
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Noddies rested on the roofs and window ledges flying out with great clatter 
while the white terns rested on scant nests of Sesuvium stems probably 
made by other birds or perched about on the rafters or window sills 
inside. Wedge-tailed shearwaters were everywhere alone or in couples. 
The desolation of the scene with its appeal of the active bird life 
will remain long in &8S&8 memory Birds were everywhere and true to my 
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