The Institution was signally honored. with an invitation by the 
President of the United States, the Honorable Franklin D. Roosevelt, to 
T, 
take part in his trip. to idax Clipperton and the Galapagos Islands^-tkfafc-p«esi 
(^ard the U.S.S. HOUSTON. 
The cruise covered a total of ^SSS miles in the brief space of 24 
cx v*-* o h g otKe 
days during which l4 different collecting stops, were made. These were dis- 
/\ 
tributed among the possessions of five different nations: Mexico (Lower 
California and Socorro Island), France (Clipperton Island), Ecuador (the 
Gfalapagos Islands), Costa Rica (Cocos Island), and Colombia (Old Providence 
Island in the Caribbean), No collecting was done in the Canal Zone or in 
\ 
the Republic of Panama, though both were visited, Iks 
The cruise began in San Diego, California, on July l6 (5:30 p.m.) 
and ended at Pensacola, Florida, on August 9 (1:30 manner of 
collecting was undertaken, fishing, bird hunting and botanizing, dredging 
tidepool and shore collecting — Indeed, all kinds of endeavor that might yield 
something of interest to the Smithsonian Institution and our National Colleo- 
tions. The ichthyological collection, which perhaps took first place in the 
President's interest, is one of the most important ever to have come to the 
National l&iseum from that section of the Pacific. 
In obtaining fish as scientific specimens, as well as for sport, 
the President was ably assisted by members of his personal party: Mr, 
Early, Mr^^red^AdamsX) Mr . Basil 0* Connor, Commander Daniel J, 
"t* 
Callaghaiij UeSeN# ^^CTolonel Edwin M« Watson, UeSeA,, and several of the 
Vvi't/i 
officers of the HOUSTONa Other specimens were secured by the crew ^ hand 
lines over the ship*s side or were picked up ashore^ 
^ c-“ ^ 
* ' S3 different 
Wmds 
of fish were caught by one means 
or another. Still other species were seen, but for want of specimens coxild 
Oi" 
not be identified, such as the large green parrot fish at Clipperton 
I 'sL o^urinOj Cr^y(SC 
