SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
WASHINGTON 25. D. C. 
April 7, I960 
Air Mail 
Dr. Waldo L, Schmitt 
c/o American Consul 
Merida, Yucatan 
— 
Dear Dr. Schmitt; 
It was nice to hear from you and to know that everything is 
progressing so well. I am glad that you found room for all your 
equipment but hope you left space for all the specimens you will 
collect. 
In answer to your question about shipping gear, I am sending 
you gb/l No. SI-13l;20 which you may use if the shipping company 
requests a b/l. Otherwise, you may ship collect through the U. S. 
Despatch Agent. I think it would be well to ship in c/o the 
Despatch Agent at 37 Commerce Street, Baltimore, Md., and have the 
shipping documents forwarded there. Sometimes in the Islands or 
in Latin American countries the shipping companies refuse collect 
shipments, so this gb/l may be needed. 
Everybody is busy here getting ready for the end of the year 
and Annual Report, as you can imagine. We close our records on 
May 12 — the years get shorter all the time. Perhaps you heard 
of the death of Lt. Bill Baird of the guard force. He was always 
such a pleasant, nice person and apparently he had recovered very 
well from his illness. 
Our snow has finally left us and we are getting lots of rain 
now. A couple of days of hot sunshine have brought only the early 
magnolias and forsythia, but I don't think the cherry blossoms will 
open in time for the festival this week. It was in the low 30' s 
this morning. We need some of your good sunshine. Hello to Jack 
and Harald. 
Sincerely, 
Helena 
