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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
ADDRESS REPLY TO 
CHIEF, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, 
AND REFER TO 
January 14, 1919. 
Hr. Alexander T7e tenor e. 
Bureau of Biological Survey. 
Dear Mr. ./e tenor e: 
In accordance with the provisions of letter of authorisa- 
tion Ro. 3R3-3i you are directed to proceed to Florida for the pur- 
pose of securing information on the food and economic importance of 
the brown pelican and other birds. 
During the past year there has been consideraole agitation 
on the part of fishermen and others who claim that pelicans are 
destroying great quantities of food fishes. It has been stateci that 
these birds have been especially destructive to mullet during the 
spawning season. Although these charges seem as yet unfounded i o 
is important to secure as much information on the subject as possible. 
You should visit two or more of the important fishing centers on the 
west coast of Florida and there secure what information you may fran 
fishermen and others, and also spend consideraole time in ooserving 
the habits of pelicans in the field, especially at times when the 
mullet are running. If pelicans seem to be following the schools of 
mullets at this time, it is important to secure a number so that their 
stomachs may be examined. In addition you should visit the Breeding 
colonies of these birds near Palma Sola in order to determine what 
fish are brotight by the adult birds to feed their young. Following 
this you should visit the breeding colonies in the Indian River on 
the east coast, in order to make similar studies. 
You should endeavor to seo Mr. J. A. Williams, State Fish 
Gotanissioner, and others interested in this matter, as well as memoers 
of the Florida .udabon Society and other persons active in bird pro- 
tection. in the State. 
Upon completion of this investigation you should proceed to 
Southern Florida and there visit two or more points in the sub-tropical 
sone for the purpose of collecting insects, seeds, berries and other 
similar material for our reference collections here in Washington. 
,Ye have a considerable number of bird stomachs on hand from tnis area 
and are constantly augmenting this number. It is very important that 
