i88 



As a result of this, the following letter was published in Nature^ 

 on the 28th February 1953, over my name: 



INVESTIGATION OF THE COELACANTH 



It was my privilege to carry out detailed investigations on the 

 first Coelacanth, and to have discovered what appears to be the area 

 where those fishes still live. 



The recent Comoran Coelacanth, while mutilated more than was 

 at first realised, nevertheless retains most of the soft parts, including 

 the abdominal viscera. This extends enormously the scope of the 

 investigational work that may be carried out on the specimen. There 

 will be still more that can be done only on parts, exudates, and 

 secretions from an untreated fresh specimen, which it is hoped to 

 seek before very long. 



It is in keeping with the importance and scope of the investi- 

 gations on all parts of this fish that they should be assigned to leading 

 experts in the field in which they fall. I have advised the South 

 African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and have 

 requested the Council's approval of, and co-operation in, this 

 matter. 



Application to be included in this scheme should be sent either 

 to the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, 

 P.O. Box 395, Pretoria, or to me personally at Rhodes University, 

 Grahamstown. While every possible facility will be granted to 

 selected visiting specialists, it should be noted that there is no 

 possibility of financial aid from this end. 



The ownership of the next specimen or specimens is of less 

 importance than their proper preservation for scientific purposes. 

 As certain organs and body fluids require special treatment and 

 preservation, it is intended to compile a set of special instructions 

 to be issued to those in areas where it is possible that a fresh Coela- 

 canth may be obtained. It will be appreciated if those interested will 

 kindly furnish detailed special instructions composed in language 

 as simple as possible, giving full directions, and not only the names, 

 but also the actual composition, of any materials to be employed. 



Since there is a hope that more Coelacanths may be found at 

 the Comoro Islands, it is desirable that all such materials should be 

 available there. 



This elicited a widespread response from scientists all over the 

 world, and as a result my wife was able to publish a composite 



