501 B 
UNITED STATES 
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
Department of Commerce 
BETROkEC'KIOCtSEtSKPBS 
Fish and lildlife Service 
Technological Laboratory 
2725 Hontlake Boulevard 
Seattle, Washington 
March 6, 1941. 
Dr. Waldo L. Schmitt, 
Smithsonian Institution, 
IT. 8. National Museum, 
Washington, D. C. 
Dear Dr. Schmitt: 
This is in reply to your interesting letters of 
February 18 and 27 and I know you understand why they have not 
been answered before. 
The "Dorothy” got away Sunday morning, February 16, and 
the "Champion" and the "Locks” sailed the evening of February 26. 
Saturday, February 22, ’Wallace developed a bad lung condition 
from inhaling formaldehyde and was not able to return to work 
until the morning of the 26th and on February 24, Carl developed 
a strep throat which laid him up for two days, so you can appreciate 
Roy’s and my situation during the last three daj/s. 
When the vessels left they were loaded down so much they 
were almost taking water over the sides* The "Dorothy" was held 
up at Petersburg with an epidemic of colds and sore throat© and 
finally proceeded north on the 27th* Prior to this date, they 
fished around Frederick Sound and in Thomas Bay without 
results other than, I believe, that they caught about three 
crabs* On the third drag in Thomas Bay, they tore out the 
bottom of the trawl and had to stop. From what I gather, the 
bottom in Thomas Bay is not suitable for dragging so any effort 
there would probable have to be done with tangle nets* 
The "Locks 71 and the "Champion" sailed north from Ketchikan 
Monday the third and, since I have had no further reports, I 
assume everything is going off all right* 
You will be interested to know that the doctor informed 
Terburg that the sight of his left eye was gone and that he might 
as well go back to work. Accordingly, he was taken along as 
cook on the "Champion", Jim Slaughter went as engineer on the 
"Locks" and Kinky Alexander as a fisherman on the same boat. 
They can help Pat along in view of their previous practical 
experience* 
