Washington geographers for five years have been studying possible claims to the remote Pacific islands by the United States, Some said the United States might base claims to the islands on a Congressional Act of 1856 which entitled Americans to occupy islands, rocks or keys on whill they had discovered guano. Following any such American Occupation, the bill provided, the islands, keys or rocks might be considered American territory at the discretion of the President.
Canton Island is on the eastern side of the Phoenix group and is eight miles long and four miles wide. Vegetation, including coconut groves, is stunted. Guano deposits are reported to have been worked out. Enderbury island is almost three miles long and 2% miles wide.
Australian guide books say that some of the Phoenix Islands were leased to the Same Shipping and Trading Co.-in 1844 for 87 years to work guafíà and produce copra.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.