SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
WASHINGTON. D. C. 
January 8, 1934 
Dear Dr. Schmitt: 
Dr. Miner has just sent the Lucas papers, with profound apologies 
for the delay, I am enclosing them and hope they will still be in time for 
your purposes. 
On the strength of Dr. H. V. Wilson* s letter, which recommended 
Mr. Patton satisfactorily enough, I had the latter transferred over here and 
we put him t>o worJi on the slides. Today a letter comes from Coker saying 
that **from what Dr . Wilson says, I doubt if Mr. Patton has that particular 
sort of skill [that necessary for re-ringing].’^ Wilson said in his letter 
that he and Co^er had talked it over, and tnen Wilson made his recommendations 
and I supposeo that Coker himself would not write. Then, at this late date, 
he comes through with a letter like that. Patton is already here and seams to 
be very conscientious and industrious. ?/e are not allowing him to remount the 
slides at all. He works hard, and even works over Lijne if the work is not in 
a position to leave at 4:50% Mr. Shoemaker thinks he can do the re- ringing 
sati sf actorily . 
Mr. Clark came back a few days ago and asked to have his share of 
the stack cleared out. It was on a day when Mr. Shoemaker was off, and with 
Mr. Bjryantfe sanction and backing, I bearded Dr. Yvetmore about moving the 
helminths. He was very gracious to me, but said that it was a matter for the 
head curator to handle and that he would not enter into it unless there was 
a controvert . He sent me to Dr. Stejneger. Dr. Stejneger seemed provoked 
about having the matter brought up again, but he did come down and inspect 
our stack, look at the things T/e have to move, and the available room we have, 
and Mr. Bryant says he is now taking up with Dr. Hall the matter of having the 
helminths sent over to Animal Industry. Mr. Bryant says he thinks I did some 
good by stirring up the hornet’s next. 
Mr. Clark has not mantioned wanting Rippey, and nei tiler have I. 
Maybe we can get off without it, after all. Mr. Bryant suggested that I tell 
Mr. Clark that I cannot spare Rippey now, because he and Howard must work to- 
gether on the sponges, but that if Ripeey has time later I’ll let him go to 
Clark. That is v/hat I will do when (and if) the question arises. 
The work is going along smoothly. Miss Sappington is finding that 
a good third of the Harring and Marsh papers are already cataloged in our files 
so tnat will cut down the job for her. Miss Boyle is getting on to the sped- 
