Page "Malden Island" Paragraph 16

Malden was claimed by the U. S. Guano Company under the Guano Islands Act of 1856, which authorized citizens to take possession of uninhabited islands under the authority of the United States for the purpose of removing guano, a valuable agricultural fertilizer.

Before the American company could begin their operations, however, the island was occupied by an Australian company under British license.

This company and its successors exploited the island continuously from the 1860s through 1927.