37 



East London, 



South Africa. 

 4th January igjg 

 Dear Dr. Smith, 



I went straight off to see how the Fish Specimen was shaping, 

 after you phoned. 



It's terrible to think I only received your wire three days after it 

 was sent,* on account of the holidays — but when the specimen came 

 in and I found it to be something unique, I strove to do all I could 

 to preserve it. As I found the work too much for me, I had it taken 

 to Mr. Center and got him to do all the heavy work. 



There was no skeleton. The backbone was a column of soft 

 white gristle-like material, running from skull to tail — this was an 

 inch across and filled with oil — which spouted out as cut through — 

 the flesh was plastic, and could be worked like clay — the stomach was 

 empty. The specimen weighed 127 lb. and was in good condition, 

 only it was very hot and work had to proceed at once. 



The gills had small rows of fine spines — but were unfortunately 

 thrown away with the body. 



Mr. Center has almost mounted the specimen now, and is not 

 doing it badly at all — the oil is still pouring out from the skin, 

 which seems to have oil cells beneath each scale. 



The scales are armour like fitting into deep pockets. (By that I 

 mean hard and heavy.) 



The skull is in the skin and I have got Mr. Center to mount it 

 with the mouth open. I have the tongue or hard mouth-plate here. 



I have done every possible thing to preserve and not lose any 

 points and feel worried to think in the end I allowed the body and 

 gills to be discarded. They were kept for three days, and when I 

 did not hear from you I gave the order for disposal. 



Kind regards. 



Sincerely yours, 



M. Courtenay-Latimer 



It is interesting to note that the final sentence in the letter 

 indicates that when she did not hear from me within three days. 

 Miss Latimer assumed I did not think the matter important. She 

 knows me better now. We answer all queries and at once. 



Miss Latimer received my letter of the 9th (see p. 35) on the 

 15th January 1939, and telephoned me the following day, giving 



* In fairness to the post office it may be stated that Miss Latimer later 

 realised that this was not correct, as will be seen from the date of her letter. 



