Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 2. Human Activities
Draft 1 March 2007
1960; Captain Emmett according to Garnett 1983a). Emmet captained the Sydney Packet
that was owned by Birnie and Company (Maude 1968). The island name was that of a well
known British ship owner (Birnie) at the time (Douglas and Douglas 1994; James Birnie
according to Garnett 1983a).
In 1840, the Vincennes and Peacock, part of Wilkes’ fleet, passed Birnie (Te Rangi Hiroa
1953; sighted the island according to Wilkes 1845a; Bryan 1941). On January 11, 1841, the
Peacock and Flying Fish landed and surveyed Birnie (Wilkes 1845b; see also Bryan 1941
and 1942).
According to Findlay (1851), the Wilkes 1838-1842 expedition was responsible for providing
the first reliable fixing of the positions of Birnie.
ENDERBURY
In 1816, Kotzebue crossed the equator at 175 0 27’ 55” W and was within 55 miles of both
Enderbury and Abariringa (Canton) (Maude 1968). Great numbers of birds were observed,
but no land was sighted.
Enderbury was discovered in 1823 by Captain James J. Coffin of Nantucket while in
command of the British whaling ship Transit (Robson 1956; Sharp 1960; Maude 1968). The
island name was a misspelling of Enderby, a London whale merchant (Maude 1968).
Anon. (1835) noted a small group of islands at lat 3 0 S and 171 0 W. This was the approximate
location of Enderbury.
In 1840, the Vincennes and Peacock, part of Wilkes’ fleet, surveyed Enderbury (Wilkes
1845a; Te Rangi Hiroa 1953). Bryan (1941, 1942, and 1974) reported that the Vincennes
visit Enderbury in 1840, while the Peacock visited Enderbury in 1841. According to Wilkes
(1845b), the Peacock and Flying-Fish made Enderbury on January 9, 1841. According to
Schuyler (1940), the Flying Fish visited Enderbury in 1841.
According to Findlay (1851), the Wilkes 1838-1842 expedition was responsible for providing
the first reliable fixing of the positions of Enderbury.
In 1859, C.A. Williams on the E.L. Frost discovered Rawaki (Phoenix), McKean, and
Enderbury (Anon. 1860h).
MANRA (SYDNEY)
In 1787, La Pérouse was at 4 0 17’S and 171 0 21’W next to Manra (Sydney) at 4 0 27’S and
171 0 16’W (Maude 1968). Despite having a large number of birds flying around his vessel,
he did not see Manra (Sydney) or any land.
In 1823, Manra (Sydney) was discovered by Captain Emment (Robson 1956; Tudor 1968;
Captain Emmert or Captain Emmett according to Sharp 1960; Captain Emmett according to
Garnett 1983a) of the vessel Sydney Packet that was owned by Birnie and Company (Maude
1968). Manra (Sydney) was named after the vessel that discovered it. Garnett (1983a) noted
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