The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-20
THE JOHNSTON ISLANDS.
Tame and Inquisitive Birds and Many
Colored Fishes Found There.

In 1868 Melville Atwood, the mining en-
gineer of this city, visited the Johnston
Islands. in the south Pacific. He went
there in company with two companions to
inspect the guano and other resources for
New York company.
THAT trip was attended with novel fea-
lures, said he yesterday, "and have ever
since had occasion to remember it. l.. l..
Louderback and another man, whose name
have forgotten, were with me. We could
only get within about three-quarters of a
mile of the islands in our steamer, the
waves broke so roughly. Besides this an
innumerable number of turretlike white
rocks stuck up all around near the shore.
"Our vessel couldn't make landing,
and we got out and | went ahead in a
whaleboat. There wasn't soul on either
island. When we touched at an old broken
wharf n myriad of wild birds flew out
They were Of all colors and were the most
curious collection l ever saw.
"The Kanaka sailors commenced to fish
right away, but they had to look awful
sharp, as the birds would grab the fish be-
fore they could get it from the line. The
birds weren't afraid at all. They just
hoped and flew and walked around right
among us. They were of all kinds, sizes
and colors.
Il found the largest island was from a
half to three-fourths of mile long and al
most as wide, being of the general shape
of frying pan or, more correctly, of a
Norwegian snowshoe. There were three
feet or more of guano lying on fine coral
sand, but above the guano again there was
probably ten feet more Of the white coral
sand. You couldn't get it out. 1t would
cost too much. The other island lay about
three-quarters Of mile away and was a
little smaller. Practically the same con-
ditions surrounded it. The islands rise
about 50 or 100 feet above the ocean. A
kind of coarse grass or weed about foot
high grows over the top.
"There isn't any water at all, and don't
think the islands have any value except
for cable. Not one of them would do for
a coaling station because the coal would
have to be conveyed both ways in lighters.
Zone thing that attracted our attention
was the variety Of fish. Like the birds,
/. they are Of all kinds and colors. The wa
ters flash with them and give forth the
most beautiful effects. The best fish is the
red mullet.
"The birds were not satisfied with nab
bing up the fish from the Kanaka lines as
they came up out Of the water. They sur
rounded us everywhere we went, examined
us as something curious, and chartered
away about us.
II went forth with my tapeline to meas
ure the big island. AS the line streamed
along the birds took after it and concluded
they would eat it, They made dive here
and there and gobbled it up. They were
all around me and couldn't do anything.
had big Brazilian knife with me that
always carried in those days. got it out
and clipped my way right and left, cutting
their heads off. l don't know how many
of the birds killed, but whole lot.
"Of the curious tropical birds there were
some with only two long tail feathers.
They were singularly beautiful. The
Kanakas pulled them out right and left.
/ have some of them yet"
The Johnston islands are about 500 miles
southwest of Honolulu.-San Francisco
Examiner.