Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-01-18
THE GUANO ISLANDS.
A Great Industry Now Almost EN-
hausted.

The most interesting of all the Pacific
islands are the Guano islands. They are,
in proportion to their size, the richest
islands OF the world, for they have already
the worlds wealth. These Guano islands
are scattered all along the coast of Peru.
The famous Chincha islands have pro-
duced more than twelve million tons of
bird manure, and have brought into the
Peruvian treasury millions upon millions
OF dollars. fine shipping of guano is
going on from these islands to-day,
although the deposits are to large ex
tent exhausted. | am told that the ship
ments for tue current year will not
probably exceed 30 600 tons.
The Guano i=lnncs are merely masses OF
volcanic rocks which have risen up out
Of the ocean. They have not a blade OF
grass nor any green thing on them, and
are merely rocky islands covered with
ragged white deposit. 1t never rains
upon them and Tor thousands OF years the
manure upon hem lay and grew III guam
tity from age to age. For some reason or
ott er the peIican-, sea Eulis and other
birds which feed by the millions in the
waters OF these parts OF the world have
chosen these islan IS as their nightly
roosting places. They pick out certain OF
them and age after age, year after year,
and night after night, they fly to them
by the thousands aud there rest. There
are often other islands near which to all
appearance are quite as desirable, but
which are untouched. Even he disturb
anee ctused by the removing OF the guano
does not seem to prevent the birds return
ing to their roost On the Chincha
Islands, which were supposed to be en-
TREY exhausted, fresh deposits OF guano
have recently been made, and in 1894
5000 tonSof new guauo were actually
shipped.
Nearly everyone knows that guano is
the excrement OF birds. A sea gull, which
is one of the smallest of the guano pro-
ducin~ birds, i'll drop from four to six
ounces of excrement day aud in the
breeding season OF ten weeks about TWEEN
iyeight pounds. Other birds produce
more, and the many little deposits
throughout the ages have made the vast
quantities. Guano has, however, other
Things mixed with 1t. The material taken
from the beds is made up also of dead
seals, which crawl upon the guano rocks
to die. Tnere are thousands OF seal TX ia
mixed with the bird manure, and not
long ago 800 tons OF such skins were ex-
cavsted from one guano deposit
The bird, which make the guano are 4
many kinds. Ole Of the chief specie. is
the pelican. | have seen these nnpqinly.
big billed hirds IN such nocks that they
fairly darkened the face OF the ocean -
they heW over it. They feed upon fishes,
and wherever YOU see flock OF pelicans
you may be ,use there IS Il school OF ti-h
near hy. The hill- OF he pelicsus have
great bags OF yellow skin under them and
they use these rs net. to seooD ur the fish.
They are the gluttous OF the SEA and air.
and often gorge themselves to such an
extent that they cannot rise from the
water, but remain there until sufficient
of their food has digested to tighten
their weight
About the L5bos islands there are
always millions OF pelicans. The waters
are black with them, and a. YOU near the
islands you see them by the thousands
seated on the rocks. They seem to be
sociable creatures and they hunt in
focks They are but little afraid OF man,
and as you. near the islands they seldom
move without you 90 right among them
The guano of the Lobos islands is found
in pockets covered with layers of sand,
which often vary in thickness from two
to fifteen feet. The sand is shoveled off
and the guano is then taken out. As it is
dug into strong smell Of ammonia arises
and the men generally wear iron masks
over their faces to keep t he ammoniac dust
ont of THAN ,,,,,u+ 81. o,,1 i,,,,a rho 80,