 Among the rocks then obtained and submitted to Murray for examination were many of nearly pure phosphate of lime.This discovery led to annexation of the island by the British Crown on 6 June 1888.Soon afterwards, a small settlement was established in Flying Fish Cove by G. Clunies Ross, the owner of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands some to the southwest, to collect timber and supplies for the growing industry on Cocos.