Natua, Miss A. 
Filed t Bredin Exp. --Society Ids. 
AIR LETT® July 10, 1956 
Miss A. Matua 
Curator, The Museun 
Papeete, Tahiti 
fteeaacfc Oceania 
Dear Mss Satua* 
Robert Harry, ichthologiat with the Vanderbilt Foundation at 
Stanford University, gava m year name m the person who could be of 
stoat help to us in Tahiti. 
A friend of this institution is contemplating a three-month or so 
trip to the Society Islands for the purpose of collecting specimens of 
invertebrate marine animals, efeiefly crustaceans. there would be per- 
haps four or five of us in the party with sees collecting fear, tanks, 
vials , bottles, nets, and traps. 
The natter ©f transportation among the islands at present is ow 
greatest pro bias* Are there any suitable about for charter" 
If you know of any, I would appreciate some ^ford regarding; thsss, charter 
rates particularly, and the accomodations available. I hope this will 
not give you too such trouble. 
I hms reed George T. Eggleston’s ’“Tahiti,* and from his informs- 
live book gather that the aoet favorable weather falls in the months 
from April to Augusts also that most needed supplies, especially 
earned food, can be bought in Papeete , and that we would need to bring 
little el-se other than ourselves and our collecting outfit. Getting 
to Tahiti by air is more round-about, and, if anything, more expensive 
than going by the Matson line. Die latter takes all of 11 days from 
San Francisco, but, at the same time, would enable one to bring his 
collecting gear along on the same vessel. 
If no yachts are available for charter, I would need to ask you 
something about inter- island transportation. I suppose if one is 
patient enough that an island freighter or copra boat would take you 
meat anywhere. I realise that the accomodations they would offer 
would be rather meager, but we are not looking for ease and confort, 
just transportation from piece to place. Whatever information you can 
give is© would be most keenly appreciated, and of the specimens we collect 
we would be happy to turn over a named set to your Museum so far as dupli- 
cates war© available. Of course, this we could, not do immediately but as 
soon as they were identified and reported upon we would be free to share 
them with you. 
1 hope you will forgive me for asking you these several questions, 
but hope you can spare us a little tine to give us some hints or clues 
as to what we might aspect in the way of transport. 
% and Dr. Harry's kindest regards to you. 
Sincerely, 
Waldo L. Schmitt 
Head Curator 
Dept, of Zoology 
