The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-26
ON THE MIDWAY ISLANDS
Observations Made by an Assis!ai t
Surgeon of the Navy.
The Physical Pccuiiarities of the
Group-Great Masses of Coral Pro-
Numbers of Sea Birds-Water Oh
tanned by Digging in the Snnd.

Assistant Surgeon Frank E. McCullogh
has sent to the Secretary of the Navy an
intere sting account of a recent visit
made to the Midway Islands, on
the collier Nero, which was used
in surveying route for the pro-
posed cable between San Francisco and the
Philippines. AS the name indicates, the
islands lie midway in the Pacific Ocean be
tween this country and the Far East 1t is
the intention of the Navy Department TO
establish a cable station on the islands, it
being necessary to have station between
Honolulu and the Philippines. The report
says:
The larger of the two islands which
comprise the group is known as Sand ISL
and. 1t is an irregularly pyriform ateil,
entirely surrounded by barrier reef. COM
plete except at two points, both of which
are sufficiently wide TO permit approach
to the sand beach. 1t is about two and
one-half miles long, and varies from one
half TO two and ons-half miles in breadth.
its widest part pointing TO the southwest.
Between the barrier and the beach is a
lagoon. which fairly surrounds all the ISL
and bordering on the ocean. and fully
mile and a half wide at its greatest
DTSaulU. N1lnlD MASSES Ol
project above the surface at various points
Practically all the coral on the island
has undergone thorough disintegration,
existing now a sand of medium coarse
ness and So bleached as TO be extrt Fly
trying to the eyes. II reflects the heat of
the sun and scorches the face. The high
est portion of the island is about thirty
feet above sea level of a rolling character
and iEterspersed with many small dunes
No fresh water is TO be seen on the sur
face, but by digging about four feet it may
be obtained
Vegetable Life Scanty.
Vegetable life is extremely scanty. with
the exception of hardy shrub varying
from three to fvesfeet in height. This is
well distributed over the island. generally
occurring in groups of a dozen or more
and attaining its greatest height on the
higher portions of the sand dunes Besides
this, there is a scrub grass and species
of turnip: the Japanese daikon are sparsely
distributed
'-on the highest portion of the island
(the northern). and not more than thirty
yards from the beach. a one-room house
was constructed many years ago by the
Pacific Maj Steamship Company at time
when they intended using the island as
coaling station.
"A piacsrd within announces that the
writer thereof the commander of a
schooner. had been wrecked on the island
In September, 1855. and had remained there
until February 1890; that during that time
he had buried four of his crew. He also
stated that by digging four feet. AT an in
dicated point, water. and good water,
too. could be obtained.
The number Of sea birds on this island
ic iuf mil nt,r iufs he
nesting season. and over fully half the ISL
and the sand was literally covered with
sea birds. II was quite impossible TO cross
II without stepping on the nesting birds
and their eggs. unless preeaution was
taken TO drive them away by means of
shrub branch. The noise of the retreating
birds as they lowered overhead, screech /
ing and darling thresteningly. was deaf |
ening. The most numerous of these birds /
are the Pacific albatross. a species of the /
sula,- commonly known as the BOBBY. the /
'bosn'' or red-billed tropic bird. and the
frigate or man-of-war bird. few land |
birds, apparently plover and the sickle |
billed ciIrlew, we're occasionally seen. OF I
these birds the tern, plover, and curlew |
are OF economic value as food
Valuable Food Fish.
I'm the lagoon and in the shallow wa
tiers on the eastern side of the island are |
great numbers and varieties of valuable /
food fish, including the cod, mullet perch, .
mackerel, and several species of brilliant
colored coryphenidae sometimes known !
as dolphin fish are Of rare green blue, I
red, and brown tints. Several echinoderms I
are found in the shallowest waters and 1
they include the edible beehe- de-mer. A /
great number of univalves and few edi- /
BILE bivalves, among which is a cookie are I
found near the lagoon. There is no evil
dence of land animals. During our an I
chorage near the island MAY %, 1899 the
temperature of the air ranged from 81 to
6s F., and that of the surface of the water
about II F.
The relative humidity was very high,
ranging from IS to saturation. The rain
fall is probably large. and more than suf-
fcient 10 nourish vegetation. | can see I
nothing on the island which would likely |
give rise TO disease.
las we sounded around the island on our |
return, January 3, 1900, the temperature /
of the air was from Sc to 81 Fahrenheit, I
and that of the surface water &c. The at
mosphere was comparatively dry
THE only building material available is /
the coral sand from which lime and brick |
may be made The shrubs are not SUI
fciently woody TO answer as fuel.
Eastern Island is apparently much more
luxurious in vegetation. and would prob /
ably repay careful investigation"