The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-06-30
DIFFERENTIATED
MIDWAY ISLAND
CAPTAIN RODMAN FOUND PARTY
JAPANESE TAKING BIRDS on
THAT ATOLL

Unless some measures are promptly
taken by the Territorial government to ,
protect the birds on the various islands
lying to the northwest from Honolulu ,
the feathered inhabitants on those ISL y
ands will soon be eXtermnated. As a
matter of fact this is precisely what
has occurred on Midway. The Japa-
nese bird hunters are the culprits. Cap !
tain Rodman the commander of the L. !
s. s. Iroquos which returned early
Sunday morning from Midway island
has brought this matter to the atten- J
ton of the Governor. 1t is not improb
able that some proclamation prohibiting
the taking of birds on those islands
will be issued by the Governor. Ger
tainly some such measure to stop the
depredations of the Japanese is needed.
When the Iroquois arrived at Midway
this month, Captain Pond who had
visited the islands in 1900 expected to
find the usual extensive amount of bird
life: To his establishment he found
that comparatively few birds We're left.
The cause of this depletion of the bird
life was very apparent. A japanese
schooner with a party of 81 japanese
had been engaged for months in taking
the birds. AS the result of their work,
they had practically denuded the ISL
ands of the albatros and the dusky tern
varieties that were to be found on
Midway. The wings are the most
valuable portions of the birds. All
about the beach could be seen evidence
of the work of destruction. Countless
NJ har Of hn I'd ho. TT,
by the Japanese in taking them and the
birds were dying of these injuries.
Captain Rodman lost no time in deal
ing with the Japs. AS Naval governor
of the island he fired the entire outfit
off bodily. The Japs did not return to
their own land but sought another ISL
and to continue their profitable work
They went to Lisiansky island and
when the Iroquois touched at that ISL
and on her way home June 90, the same
schooner and the same Japs were TAX
ing the birds. The Japs were at once
ordered off Lisiansky.
That some protection should be given
| the bird life on the various islands ly-
| ing to the northwest is apparent. The
| matter has already been brought to the
attention of Governor Dole and some
action will no doubt be taken to sup
! press the abuse. The Japs are the
Culprits.
In addition to the Japs violating the
laws regarding the ruthless slaughter
| of game, it is very prbobale that the
Japs can be prosecuted. and deported
for violations of the alien contract la
| Dor laws They are hired by their
bosses to work at a certain amount of
wages and for a certain length of time.
Those islands are United States proper
| ty of Hawaii The labor laws apply to
them as we'll as to any other section.
The only difficulty is firing the Japs
away. However some steps will prob
ably be taken to protect the birds and
prevent their determination. Many of
the other islands between Midway and
| Honolulu appear to have been visited
by the Japanese.
En- route home, Captain Rodman
stopped at Laysan island. Every thing
was in fine condition. He was much
pleased with the method taken by Max
Schlemmer to protect the Guano birds
None of these birds are allowed to be
slaughtered. In consequence the birds
are on the island in vast number. The
lroquois stopped at Laysan Island June
| II Mail was brought from LaySan
! Island.
The Japanese We're indirectly res
ponsible for both Captain Rodman of
the Iroquois and Captain Kinder of the
5. S. Coptic being badly fooled. The
Coptic stopped at Midway June 10 from
Honolulu with mail. Captain Kinder
reported that he had passed within
seven miles of Hermas and Pearl reef
and he seen signalys of distress flying.
He was of the opinion that there must
be shipwrecked crew on that reef.
1t so happened that Captain Rodman
had been fooled also when the Iroquois
was approaching that reef When GO
ing out, Captain Rodman and the off,
GERS say what they thought were sig
nails of distress hOisted on Hermas and
| Pearl reef. The vessel went close in
shore, Not until one of the signals"
| OF distress suddenly flew off the pole,
dived down into the water and came up
swallowing a fish, did the officers rea-
lie what the signals were. The APP
parent signals" We're nothing but
birds that had roasted on the poles
the japanese had erected about the
huts on the reef. There was no sip
wrecked crew at all on the reef but
there was ample evidence that the Japs
mad lived on the place for a time.
| ------~-------.-
NUMEROUS ASSAULT CASES.