Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 2. Human Activities
Draft 1 March 2007
commercial trans-Pacific air transport that gave Abariringa (Canton) and Enderbury new
value (Melamid 1955).
In 1931, there was no one living on Abariringa (Canton) (Bryan 1951; Freeman 1951).
In 1935, an American expedition surveyed the Phoenix Islands and selected Abariringa
(Canton) for trans-Pacific commercial air service (Clune 1951).
In 1936, the H.M.S. Leith visited Abariringa (Canton) and proclaimed British sovereignty
(Anon. 1938e; Baarslag 1940; Leff 1940; Robson 1956). The proclamation was placed in a
container that was buried at the foot of the flagpole (Anon. 1938e). In 1937, the H.M.S. Leith
visited the island again and nailed a sign board proclaiming British sovereignty to a coconut
tree (Anon. 1938e; Degener and Gillapsy 1955).
On April 8, 1937, Abariringa (Canton) and the rest of the Phoenix Islands were placed under
the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony (Bryan 1941, and 1942; McIntire 1960). The Phoenix
Islands District headquarters was on Abariringa (Canton) (McIntire 1960; see also Luke
1945a) and was administered by the Colonial Office.
A party of New Zealand astronomers planned to visit Abariringa (Canton) to observe the
1937 solar eclipse (Anon. 1936). In June 1937, the H.M.S. Wellington visited Abariringa
(Canton), but found the U.S.S. Avocet on the only anchorage (Baarslag 1940; Leff 1940; May
26, 1937 according to Mitchell c1937). The commander of the British vessel requested that
the American ship move, but was referred to Washington D.C. (see also Grattan 1941;
Marshall 1938). According to Degener and Gillaspy (1955), the Wellington fired a round
over the bow of the Avocet, and the Avocet responded similarly. Both captains then
communicated with their respective governments regarding the situation. Both were told not
to do anything rash.
When the British lodged a diplomatic complaint again the U.S.S. Avocet, it opened the door
for negotiations between the British and the U.S. regarding the future use of Abaririgna
(Canton) as a stop for planes between Hawaii and New Zealand and for British access to
landing rights in Hawaii (Holbrook 1973).
Detailed accounts of organizing and executing the American solar eclipse expedition in 1937
were provided in a number of reports (see Hellweg 1937; Mitchell 1937, c1937, and 1938;
Gardner 1938; Oates 2003). The eclipse expedition was transported by the U.S.S. Avocet.
According to Follett (1943), the solar eclipse expedition became Abariringa’s (Canton’s) first
settlers since the whaling ship Canton. The solar eclipse expedition built a landing dock in
the lagoon to assist with unloading (Schuyler 1939).
The solar eclipse on June 8, 1937 was in totality for about three minutes (Anon. 1937c; 1939
according to Luomala 1951). This was the longest duration of totality of any solar eclipse in
1,200 years (Michell 1938). The solar eclipse was to pass directly over Abariringa (Canton)
and Enderbury (Bryan 1937). Events of the solar eclipse were broadcast live from Abariringa
(Canton) (Mitchell 1938). The expedition was sponsored jointed by the U.S. Navy and the
National Geographic Society (Murphy et al 1954).
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