MIDDLETOWN, DELAWARE 
January IS, 1959 
Dear Dr. Schmitt; 
It was great to see you again when I was in 
IfVashington a few weeks ago. Our talk brought home the rea 
zation that the trip is not too far off, and my excitement 
beginning to grow. 
Many thanks for your recent letter. I called 
Dick Darsie at once, and probably by now you have heard from 
him about the distilled water and other matters. I»m under 
way on my shots, and having a horrible time with triple 
typhoid. The only additional shot I am trying to get be- 
yond ttiose you recommended is yellow fever, since I under- 
stand there has been some trouble with this in Trinidad re- 
cently. 
The carpenters here at school are engaged in 
constructing two heavy cases for equipment and bottles, and 
should do the trick. As soon as they are reasonably complete, 
I will send you the dimensions, estimated weight, and pro- 
bable contents. Each will have handles and some means by 
which they can be lashed down. 
If the underwater flash for the housing I took 
with me arrives, or the other new plastic housing comes, 
would you send them up for inclusion with the other apparatus 
of this nature? That is, if they arrive before the 15th of 
February or sio,»«if not by then, it would be best to include 
them in your cases, if you can. 
I have included with this letter a list of the 
films I would like. Undoubtedly it is a far larger list 
than usually is requested, but since I will be making dupli- 
cates on the spot, *rather than having films duplicated later, 
and since I want to do the best possible job in the way of 
biophotography as well as cover the trip adequately, I have 
estimated the film necessary as accurately as possible. Of 
course I can offer no guarantees — biophotography is too 
unpredictable for that — but if I can accomplish what I plan, 
vje" may achieve a unique record of shallow vmter invertebrates. 
Biophotography is merely a technicuej to master 
it requires time, patience, and some skill; what is far more 
imuortaiit is to have knovjledge of the subject. Most oi the 
published biophotographs display admirable technique, but un- 
derstandably lack authenticity. I believe there are great 
opportunities for the biologist w'ho can become a competent 
