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concerned in such cases as the present one.
The name Prates is of distinctly Spanish or Portuguese origin, but we have been unable to trace any evidence as to when and by whom the island was so named.
The Atoll and Reef, and the neighbouring waters were first systematically charted and sounded in the year 1858 by Captain J. Richards, R.N. of His Majesty's Ship "Saracen". (Admiralty chart No.2721) and additions were made later to the chart by Commander Bullock, R.N. in 1866 and by Commander Brooker, R.N. in 1867, since which no work has apparently been done by the hydrographic service in connection with Pratas.
From careful inquiry into the question of any previous occupation of the Atoll by subjects of any other Power than Great Britain, we find that Pratas has been visited annually, for the last 50 years, at least, by one or two fishing and turtle-hunting parties, who have never remained for more than a week or two, at most, upon the island, in order to dry their