"It is simply delightful to find one spot at least in this world of ours where the birds are not afraid. So long as the guano holds out those conditions will probably remain unchanged. If this time comes to an end, the Government should see to it that this wonderful preserve of avian life is protected from the ravages of man, the destroyer, and of the rapidly diminishing moiety of his better half that still persists in the aboriginal feather-wearing habit." 3 Thousands of eggs are gathered here from time to time which are used in the manufacture of albumen.
Gardiner Island is a cone one hundred and seventy feet high, one and one-half miles in diameter. At the base there is a cliff encircling the island, sixty or seventy feet high, made by the dash ing of the waves against the rock. On the east side there is an additional small mass of land.
French Frigate Shoal is shaped somewhat like one's boot. There are five sand spits, always dry, near the northern end. The enclosed area is full of rocks and banks mostly submerged and separated by deep holes. The largest islet, Plate 4A, is a basaltic rock one hundred and twenty feet high, and is situated on the inside of the reef less than three miles distant. The area of the
shoal is from twenty-five to thirty square miles. The water is seventy-two feet deep a short distance away from the rock.
The Maro Reef is of quadrangular shape about twenty-two and five-tenths square miles in extent. There is nothing visible but breakers, which are very low and the reef is a most dangerous one for the mariner to encounter.
Necker Island has much the same shape as the French Frigate Shoal. The highest peak is three hundred feet high. The island is seven-tenths of a mile long, hounded by the usual cliff made by the waves. The widest part is five hundred feet. The top is undulating, with some soil. There seems to be a landing place on the inner angle of the foot. Quite an extensive shoal sur rounds the island, represented by one authority as being prin cipally upon the south side. Necker Island is surrounded by shal low water, eighty-four feet deep at the distance of one mile from the shore. Plate 4B shows the south side of the island.