‘Scientist’ Roosevelt’s Catch @ 
W, 
To Enrich National Museum 
rut A 
Dr. Waldo L. Schmitt, marine zo- 
ologist, of the Smithsonian Insti- 
Schmitt' said. “A few oi the fish 
and a great many crustaceans we 
tution. who accompanied President ' haven’t even identified yet.” Pend 
Roosevelt on his recent Pacific 
cruise, returned to Washington yes- 
terday with a healthy tan, 60 spe- 
cies of fish. 2.000 pounds of boxes, 
tanks and equipment and an en- 
thusiastic appreciation of the Presi- 
dent as a benefactor of science. 
Several of the fish, including some 
caught by President Roosevelt him- 
self, will greatly enrich the col- 
lection of the National Museum, 
said Dr. Schmitt. Among the rarer 
finds were good examples of the 
thread-fin bass. Southern barracuda, 
rainbow .runner and the wahoo. 
“Some of the.se .specimens are 
I worth the whole trip to us,” Dr. 
ing an intensive study of the col- 
lection, Schmitt said it was impos- 
sible to tell whether any new species 
had been caught. 
During the three weeks of the 
Presidential cruise. Schmitt filled 
his packing boxes not only with 
strange and exotic fish but also with 
botanical and geological specimens 
and with birds and snakes and even 
fossils. 
A particularly valuable botanical 
find was made at Cocos Island, off i 
the Central American coast, Schmitt 
said. Flowers, ripe seeds and seed- 
See F18H, Page 4, Column 1. 
119 
Roosevelt’s Fish 
■ Will Aid Science 
Fish 
Continued from Page 1. 
ling plants of an undescribed type 
of palm growing there were brought 
back to Washington. The palm was 
known to science only through part 
of a leaf brought to the outside 
world in 1908, he said. 
‘‘This palm has been much de- 
sired by botanists,” Schmitt de- 
clared, “not only for proper descrip- 
tion but also for the purpose of 
propagation.” He added with a 
smile. “You ought to have seen our 
botanist when I gave him that 
palm.” 
600 Pounds Frozen. 
' But Schmitt was especially pleased 
vyith his fish collection. “The larger 
game fish are difficult specimens to 
preserve and transport,” he said. 
“However, the excellent refrigera- 
tion facilities aboard the Houston 
enabled us to transport frozen 
specimens right back to Washington. 
I brought a 600-pound box full of 
frozen fish.” 
Some of the best fish were taken 
from the waters around the Gala- 
pagos Islands, Schmitt said. A spe- 
cimen resembling the Pacific am- . 
her jack of Lower California was; 
caught If it turns out to be that 
species, “a notable extension of the 
range will have been established,” 
he said. 
; The collections made by the Pres- 
ident and his party in the Galapagos 
region are of especial scientific 
value, as they were made at a time 
of year when the islands are sel- 
dom visited, Schmitt pointed out. 
Entire Party Helped. 
Dr. Schmitt said the entire per- 
sonnel of the Houston, as well as the j 
Presidential party, had been of great 
assistance in building up the col- ! 
Ipction. “At about 11 o'clock one 
night,” he said, “one of the engineer 
officers called me to the engine 
room to see a lot of bright red 
shrimp they had discovered in the 
.suction side of one of the condensers 
opened for repairs.” . , . j 
Even the anchor chain yielded 
treasure. “On the 145 fathoms of 
chain laid out at the Tagua Cove 
anchorage, these species were found; ' 
A starfish, a number of spiny sea- 
urchins, a quantity of red shrimp- ^ 
like crustaceans, a spire shell to . 
which a calcareous red sea plant 
was attached.” _ , c- u -is 
In .short, according tn Dr. Schmitt, 
“Ihp trip couldn't be beaten.” 
