COPY 
V. £• B. NICHCLSOM & SONS 
P* 0. Booc lOS 
St* John * s 
B* W* 1* 
19th August* 1957 
Dr* Viuldo Sohmitt 
Smithsonian Institution 
IMltsd States National Uuseum 
Washington 26 
D* C. 
Dear Dr* Sohmittt 
I ms del lifted to hnYo your letter telling us you wanted the 
FKEELMCfi next yoar* Shs is yours fr<m i£sroh BIsti 
I do hope this will suit hr* Dredin and your paarty* I realise 
you would really like her earlier* but she has bewi previously 
booked until this date* I would also like to apolo^te for not 
having replied to yoiB* letter iBuaediately * bub we were waiting for 
a oable from another olieat who had tmporarily booked the FREELANCE 
for the BSaroh *• April period* V?e have now heard he is unable to 
oome* so we have reserved the ship for you from Maroh Blst until 
May 1st* 
Unfortunately* the FHEELi^CE’e foe has risen to $1080 per week* 
$100 xoore than last year* I am sorry this has to be* but w6*ve been 
forced to do it duo to iuoreased running expenses of all kinds* I 
hope this will still be aooeptable to you* 
I am no longer skipper of ti» FREELANCE* but I»m certainly hoping 
to take charge of her for your cruise* Iwouldn»t miss it for any- 
thingV She FREELANCE is for sale* and if she should be purchased, the 
Owner would be in charge* In that case* I hope I*d be able to oome 
along as official diver! I think we would start the cruise in St* 
Thomas* and work our way back to Antigua* Shis works out best for the 
ship* 8 schedule* but the going may be a bit heavy* sailing against the 
wind sometimes* Do you mind this? 
It will be a great pleasure to introduce you to toy wife* who is 
very much looking forward to meeting you* I will bo interested to 
see the illustrated resume of the 1966 trip* If you oculd send us 
60 copies* that should be aisple* 
