The Red Cloud chief., 1912-07-18

dsh and bird life. The sea bird population alone
probably cannot be eQualed in any other part OF
the world Tens OF millions Of feathered fowl
make their home on these lonely specks Of land
repairing thither each year in countless focks
to establish rookeres and to rear their young
The reefs and waters about the islands fairly
swarm with fish and other forms Of life. SO that
they really form densey populated natural zoo
logical garden
To the naturalist. the out.of.door enthusiast the
nature study photographer or the man who sim
ply loves out.of-theway places and the unusual
and novel, these islands leave little to be desired
chance to run down along this chain 10 tho
opportunity of lifetime and bound to result in
a really worth while experience-one that will
live fresh In the memory long after the details
Of other trips and experiences have been mingled
with the commonplace OF life.
Unfortunately, at present visiting the islands
in the reservation Is not the simple matter that
It should be- nor that It is hoped 1t may be made
in time. In former years the operations Of
guano company. then engaged in exploiting the
guano or bird lime deposits on the islands. made
It possible. by invitation. to make the journey to
Laysan Island from Honolulu during the summer
months in one of the company's sailing vessels
While the islands of the chain are all different
from each other and all intensely interesting.
Layson is in certain sense typical Of most OF
them It is a raised coral ato approximately two
miles across that in general form has been com.
pared to a broad. shallow platter composed en-.
tirely Of sand or raised coral reef not more than
10 feet about the sea at the highest point the
sand rim which completely surrounds the salt
water lagoon that occupies the central part OF the
island. This lagoon ia Of special interest, since
its water contains salt than does that Of the
open sea. This interesting fact tells much Of the
geological history Of the island and points unmis.
takably to the origin of the land II shows It to
be circular coral atoll that at the time OF its
elevation above the sea carried the water of the
lagoon up to its present level Since that time.
and 1t must have been very long ago. the waters
have evaporated to sope extent and left that
which remains more concentrated and salty than
II was when the island was first made. About the
edge OF the lagoon the boggy earth is covered with
crystals Of salt mixed with chips Of guano This
shell.like substance sparkles in the sun and sug.
gests band Of silver at the waters edge. About
this barren ring II narrow band covered with
low creeping vines Back OF this again is a growth
OF juncas which Is backed up in turn by a ring
OF low bushes The prevailing plant OF the island.
however. is a kind Of coarse bunch grass that
grows three or four feet high. More than score
Of plants have found footing there during the
long period that has elapsed since the dry land
FIRST rose so that at the time Of its discovery and.
indeed. on the occasion OF my first visit. for a
sand island 1t was we'll supplied with a low
growth Of hardy vines. grass and shrubs Unfor-
tunatey the introduction OF rabbits on the island
has marked q sad change since then.