UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
ADDRESS REPLY TO 
CHIEF, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, 
AND REFER TO 
June 23, 1923 
G. P. Wilder 
hr . A, Wetmore, 
Care of Bishop Museum, 
Honolulu, Hawaii. 
Dear Dr. Wetmore: 
In June, 1918, we appointed Mr. Gerrit P. Wilder as Warden 
of the Hawaiian Islands Heservation, at a salary of $25 per month. 
He was recommended very highly "by Mr. William Todd, Bureau of Ilaval 
Intelligence, Hawaii, who stated that Mr. Wilder was an enthusiastic 
sportsman and conservationist and would do everything in his power 
to further the purposes for which the reservation was created. It 
was realized at the time that Jfr. Wilder might seldom he able to 
visit the reservation hut it was felt that he might keep the Bureau 
posted in regard to any matters which might have a tendency to imperil 
the safety of the birds. We have, however, received very few reports 
regarding the birds and the reservation since he was appointed, for 
the reason, no doubt, that he has been unable to visit the refuge 
more than a couple of times. According to the records, his last 
visit to the reservation, prior to this spring, was in 1919. We 
believe that Mr. Wilder is a man of very high character, that he has 
a deep interest in the birds and the refuge, and that his failure 
to send in reports of the kind desired has been due to the fact that 
there was nothing for him to bring to the attention of the Bureau. 
I shall be glad to have you give some thought to this situation while 
you are in the vicinity so that, upon your return, you may be able to 
advise me whether the Bureau is justified in paying even this small 
salary for a warden residing in Hawaii. 
Our appropriation for maintenance of reservations is, as you 
know, very limited and we have to watch each expenditure with the ut¬ 
most care, in order that we may be able to secure the highest possible 
returns for our expenditures. You have doubtless had an opportunity 
of becoming quite well acquainted with Mr. Wilder during his visit 
this spring to the reservation. You understand that we have no reason 
to feel the least bit dissatisfied with Mm. What we lack is informa¬ 
tion as to the real needs of the situation. 
With best wishes for the continued success of the expedition, 
I am, 
Sincerely yours 
Chief of Bureau 
