The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-02-04

md seizure Of the bird plumago:
"My Instructions were 10 investigate
conditions of the Hawaiian Islands Re.
,ervation and in case there should be
any. depredations on the islands by
plumage hunters, TO make arrests and
bring them TO trial and seize the plu'
mage that had been gathered.
awe made the first stop at Bird
Island which is the nearest to tins
group. At this season there are no
birds on the islands We saw only two |
albatross. 1t was not possible to effect |
n landing owing to the weather condi. |
tions. The Thetis was then headed for |
Necker Island.
No Landing on Necker.
The first stop was made there, but
no more birds were found there than
on Bird Island. Owing to heavy
east.northeast blow we did not make
a landing there. We continued west
ward to Gardiner Island. This we
found to be an inaccessible rock about
two hundred feet in diameter and about
two feet in height. There were a few
albatross lowering over it. don't
know that landing has ever been
made on that rock, except possibly by
q swimmer.
"We then continued westward, the
next island visited being Laysan Is
land. Upon approaching this Island
the American flag was seen hoisted
over watchtower, or the light tower.
Though the sea was high we anchored
to make an investigation, knowing
that human beings were on shore. A
boat was sent off in charge of an Off,
Ger with instructions to ascertain the
number of men on the island, their
business there, and if they were con.
Quoting the operation Of plumage hunt
ing, to take copies of whatever docu-
ments were in their possession giving
permission for the work Several docu
ments were found in the possession Of
the overseer of the party Of fifteen
Japanese found there. Copies were
made, and the group of thirteen build
ings was examined in which were
found large quantities of bird pluma &c,
both baled and loose, the loose plumage
being in a certain stage of curing.
Near by the buildings, and stretched
over the sands, were perhaps two hun
bred mats held down by rocks. Upon
removing these mats, masses of bird
plumage were found in various stages
of curing. The officer then returned to
the ship to make his report. 1t was
then seven or eight o'clock in the
evening.
1.-THE next morning two armed boat
| crews in charge of an officer were sent
ashore, the officer having instructions
Ito arrest the fifteen Japanese found,
and seize the plumage. This was done,
the men having been given time to
gather their personal effects, no resist
ance being offered. The work of float
ing off the plumage occupied two days
on account of the distance between the
ship and the landing, and rough
weather.
"Knowing that the uncured plumage,
if taken on board the ship would be
unsanitary and cause disease, steps
| were taken to destroy it. This was
done. The mats were taken from of
the wings, and, being taken to the
beach, this was accomplished.
"The next island visited was Lysian-
ski, which is to the westward of Lay
san. Upon anchoring at Lysianski
Island an officer was sent ashore to in
vestigate conditions, and eight Japan
ese were found on this island, occupy
ing four buildings, in which was stored
large quantities of baled plumage ready
for shipment On this island there was
no plumage in process of curing.
| |While we were at Laysan the ex-
ecutive order of the President of the
United States of date February 3, 1909,
creating the Hawaiian Islands Reserva-
ton, was interpreted to the fifteen Jap
anese, showing that their operations
were illegal, and upon that order the
arrests werc made. The same proceed
ure was followed at Lysianski. The
Japanese ON the latter island offered nc
resistance and came ON board peace
ably with their personal effects. Their
plumage was fioated out to the Thetis
this work requiring two days.
"The ship was then headed for the
Pearl and Hermes Reef to the westward
of Lysianski, and anchorage was made
off the largest island, but no human
beings were found there, but large
numbers of birds were found.
81 am informed by the officer who
went ashore that the sealions there are
| quite fierce. Having found no evidences
of depredations, we went to Midway
l
tablished. This island is not embraced
in the bird reservation, but from there
sent cable messages to Washington
and delivered mail for the cable colony
From Midway we went to the western
most island, which is Ocean Island. The
ship was anchored off the reef and {
boat in charge of an officer sent ashore
to investigate. No depredations hat
been committed, and there were no evi
dences of human occupation. A larg,
number of birds were found, and also
some sealions.
"Then the return was taken and &
stop was made at Midway again to pick
up mail from Midway for Honolulu
We made another visit to Laysan and
found that the plumage left exposed tc
be destroyed had 80 deteriorated thai
it would be of no value to any chance
visitor. A course was then set for the
Dowsett reef. Ii was not found to b,
| opeuniad and thara yara M bird ronk