Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 2. Human Activities
Draft 1 March 2007
There were three vessels named Phoenix in the region from about 1794 to 1824 (Bryan 1941
and 1942). Which of these vessels discovered Rawaki could not be determined. During
1815, the London whaler Phoenix, owned by Daniel Bennett was engaged in whaling in the
Pacific (Maude 1968). In 1821, the Phoenix of Nantucket under Captain Harris was the only
vessel by that name in the central Pacific (Stackpole 1935; 1822 according to Maude 1968).
It was later followed by the Phoenix of New Bedford (Stackpole 1935).
In 1834, the location of Rawaki (Phoenix) was published by the Russian hydrographer
Krusenstern (Sharp 1960).
Rawaki (Phoenix) was discovered in 1840 by the U.S. Exploring Expedition (Baarslag 1940).
The Peacock and Flying Fish of the U.S. Exploring Expedition searched for Rawaki
(Phoenix) in 1841, but were not able to locate it (Garnett 1983a). Bryan (1941 and 1942)
noted that the U.S. Exploring Expedition did not find the island.
On March 9, 1853, Captain Stuart of the Corinthian discovered Rawaki (Phoenix), but
reported it to be a dangerous reef that could be seen for 8 miles in clear weather (Pompey
1970; see also Anon. 1853b). However, according to the note by Ward (1967d) to Anon.
(1853b), the description provided by Captain Stuart did not exactly correspond with that of
Rawaki (Phoenix).
Anon. (1853a) reported that the schooner John Franklin had drifted ashore on Rawaki
(Phoenix).
In 1859, C.A. Williams on the E.L. Frost discovered Rawaki (Phoenix), McKean, and
Enderbury (Anon. 1860h).
CARONDELET REEF
Carondelet Reef was former known as Mary Reef (Krusenstern 1835; Maude 1968).
The whaling ship Loper discovered a reef at 5 0 30’S, 175 0 00’W (Anon. 1826). In the note to
this article by Ward (1967a), it was stated that this reef was probably Carondelet Reef.
In 1903, Carondelet Reef was sighted by the British steamer Aorangi (Ward 1967a).
A vessel named Carondelet reported the reef about 97 km (60 miles) southweast of
Nikumaroro (Gardner) (Hydrographic Office 1916). The sighting was in 1903.
In 1927, the steamship Lume reported sighting Carondelet Reef (Ward 1967a).
In 1937, Carondelet reef was confirmed by the H.M.S. Wellington (Hydrographer of the
Navy 1969).
WINSLOW REEF
Winslow (1853) reported that in 1851 he captained the ship Phoenix from Nantucket and
discovered a dangerous reef at 1 0 40’S, 174 0 50’W (see also Hydrographic Office 1940;
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