SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, I93O IOI 



At dusk on the 24th we tied up against the dock of the Customs 

 House at Nueva Gerona, Isle of Pines, where we were graciously 

 and helpfully received by the Government officials. By the use of an 

 automobile we were able to visit all the desirable parts of the island, 

 securing a magnificent catch of much needed material. 



On September 2j we headed for our final port, Batabano, which we 

 reached on the morning of the 29th with all things packed ready for 

 transmission to Havana. The Port officials here, as elsewhere, had 

 been apprised of our coming, which made it possible to have all things 

 aboard a freight car within two hours after docking. A motor bus 

 carried our party to Havana where we were met by Cuba's grand old 

 naturalist, Dr. Carlos de la Torre, who helped me with all my needs 

 and gave to the rest of my staff a real glimpse of Havana. 



All things settled, we left Havana September 1 with 4 young, live 

 tortoise-shell turtles purchased at Cayman Brae, 2 huge live iguanas 

 captured on Cayo Rosario, and 120 huge hermit crabs caught on one 

 of the Doce Leguas Cays as our chief baggage. These live animals 

 were intended for the Zoological Park at Washington. In this connec- 

 tion it might also be mentioned that I shipped by parcel-post from 

 Guantanamo to the same institution 22 live iguanas which we had 

 caught on various cays in the Bahamas. All of these animals arrived 

 in good condition. Our main collection was shipped by freight, in 

 part from Fortune Island, in part from Guantanamo, and the rest 

 from Cuba. We returned to Washington on October 3. 



This cruise has yielded a larger amount of molluscan material than 

 any other in which I have had a part, excepting the U. S. Bureau 

 of Fisheries expedition in the Philippines in 1907-1910. We obtained 

 some 250,000 specimens of mollusks, and in addition 925 bird skins 

 and 596 reptiles and batrachians ; likewise some mammals, fish, insects, 

 and marine invertebrates. 



Great credit for the securing of these splendid collections is due to 

 my energetic associates mentioned at the beginning of this article. The 

 Cuban crew of the Jose Enrique also deserves special mention, from 

 the captain to the cabin boy. Foremost of all, however, thanks are 

 due to our Department of State for having secured not only free 

 entry to all foreign ports for our expedition, but also that good will 

 and helpfulness on the part of all officials in the places visited that 

 makes an expedition of this kind a real joy. It would take more space 

 than all these notes to adequately express thanks for all the favors 



