December 6, J.934. 
Deer ?/aldo: 
While I have really no news to pass along, I could not refrain 
from writing to tell you what a fine response I hade from Dr. Fisher 
on the California Academy of Sciences matter. Shat I wrote is not 
specially material, but I am going to give you a copy of his reply, 
as you may see him on your return and should be posted* Suffice it 
to say that I made no mention of Dr. Fish in my letter. That can 
come later if you think wise. I presented the matter merely as an 
original idea of my own, without any strings as to what I knew or 
didn’t know. Fisher is, I’m sure, clearly of the impression that 
I waited to get you out of the coTintry before presenting the idee so 
that you could not interfere with my proposal if you felt so inclined 
Here Is Fisher’s reply: 
Dear Mr. Bryant; 
Nothing would please me more than to see Dr. Schmitt in the 
position eonceraing which you enquired. I esteem him very highly 
as a man and a scientist. He is excellently well fitted for the 
position. 
Unfortunately I cannot give you very satisfactory information 
on the financial status of the Academy. Altho I'm a member I have 
not been there for years having lost interest, from not being sym- 
pathetic with the pest administration. It has leaked out that the 
ihcome has been curtailed, but I do not know how severely; nor do 
I know what salary they are proposing to offer. Dr.F.M.HcFarland 
the new president, is an old friend and I think would give me some 
information which I shall proceed to ask for and let you know if I 
get it.' I shall also be glad to support the application if you 
make it. 
I think the chances for work are good - research I mean - altho 
of course there is a good deal of executive detail as the Steinhardt 
Aquarium is administered by the Academ^ 
I think the position has great possibilities. 
Sincerely yours, 
(signed) W. K. Fisher. 
Well, there you ere, I told Miss McCain I did not like 
the letter, it was to d — d favorable. You might get a chance to 
buzz the Captain about it. He might like to put up some money to 
bring about a definite association with scientific work to be carried 
on by the Academy vinder your direction. 
We are all agog, of course, over the tragic developments on the 
G-alapagos, and await anxiously some authoratative information on the 
matter. My one Sherlockian deductions have convinced me that Ritter 
went suddenly berserk and cleaned up the Baroness & Co,, and then com 
mitted suicide. Tom Henry was in the other day with a telegram from 
the North American Newspaoer Alliance, wanting to know how he could 
reach you. I said he couldn’t, but when he showed me the wire, I 
thought that in view of the uncertain publicity already appearing in 
the papers, there could be no harm in it, so gave him the ship’s call 
