Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-30
RABBITS CONVERT
ISLAND into DESERT
One of U. S. Group in Pacific
Deserted by Human
Family.

Uncle Sam has just discovered that
one of his many thousands of islands
has been living for years under false
pretenseS.
On the charts Of the world I.aysan
Island, largest member of the LeeWard
group of islets that extends for 1900
miles northwest from Hawaii. Is shown
in position where in reality the waves
of the Pacific roll unbroken. The island
actually lies four miles north Of the
charted position and will be moved to
its proper situation on future maps.
"Laysan furnishes a striking example
Of the unforeseen effects that flow from
tampering. even in a minor degree,
with natures balanced forces" says Q
bulletin from the National Geographic
Society.
Once Covered With Vegetation.
when the island was discovered,
and for many years afterward, 1t was
covered with green vegetation and was
the nesting place Of myriads of sea
birds and the home Of thousands Of
land varieties of the feathered family.
Then the guano deposits were exploited
and headquarters for the workers was
established.
by 1909 the fertilizer deposits were
exhausted. Laysan and It's neighboring
isles were made into a bird reservation
that year and human Inhabitants OF
the island departed. But they left be-
hind them an apparently innocuouS
pair Of domestic rabbits. whose descend
ants made a veritable desert Of the
island.
when officials Of the bird reserva-
ton visited Laysan in 1929 they found
that every blade of grass, every weed
and shrub and all but three or four
trees had been destroyed by the ro-
dents. Considerable areas were covered
with the bleacehd bones of thousands
of rabbits that had starved after their
food supplies had been exhausted, and
with the bones of birds overwhelmed
by the drifting sands. Even the ranks
of the birds that lived from the sea
had been noticeably thinned. The last
few living rabbits were killed and trees
were planted.
Bird Family Totals q Million.
"The survey Of the island that has
| just been completed disclosed that with
the rabbits out of the way the trees
have thrived, grasses and other plants
are covering the island, and the bird
inhabitants have increased to approx
mately million. Laysan thus becomes
| the most important bird breeding
1.-THE island Is a mile and three
quarters long and q mile wide. It is
| relatively low sand isle with an ele-
waited rim rising somewhat abruptly
from the beach to q height Of 20 to
| 40 feet. In the center is lagoon, with
| water concentrated by evaporation until
| 1t is more saline than the sea.
"Best known of the islands-that with
Laysan make up the northwestern ex-
| tension of the Hawaiian groups Mid
way, which lies near the 180th meridian.
1t is under the jurisdiction of the Navy
Department and is leased to a cable
/, company to serve as its midocean relay
station About 80 people, half whites
| and half Orientals, dwell On the island
| In a little handmade community whose
materials have been brought from the
| United States and Hawaii, even to the
soil in which grow the little patches
4 of lawn and thu tiny vegetable gardens.
| N"Only one island of the Leeward
group lies west Of Midway. 1t is Ocean
Island, about so miles away. It con-
| sists Of an irregular circle Of coral 4
miles or so in diameter, with a semi
1 circular fragment, known as Green
Island, 1900 yards long by 800 yards
wide, at its eastern side. On its beaches
the Hawaiian monk seal breeds IN great
numbers.
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