UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY 
WASHINGTON, D. C, 
ADDRESS REPLY TO 
HiEF, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, 
AND REFER TO 
1923. 
Dr. xJexander Wetmore, 
c/o Dishop Museum, 
Honolulu, Hawaii. 
Dear Doctor Wetmore; 
Your letters of March 21 and ^pril 1 were read with great 
interest on my return to 'Dashington, also your various telegrams , 
including one received this morning stating that you had worked 
five days on Ocean Island, two days on Midway, and three days on 
pearl and Hermes Reef. 
I am highly pleased that you have secured eight seals and a 
good series of birds. It is highly gratifying that the expedition 
appears to be making such fine progress as outlined in your letter 
and matters could scarcely have been arranged more satisfactorily 
for the work to be successful, and I anticipate very fine results. 
fhe changes in your letter of authority referred to in your 
letter of ^pril 1 have been made. I hope you have written me giving 
more details as to the results you have secured. I hope you may 
have found Laysan teal sufficiently numerous to get a handsome series 
of them, and that you may discover a new species of teal on Wake 
Island besides other new things. 
1 was pleased to learn from one of your telegrams that you 
had the rabbit situation on Laysan in hand, and trust that you may 
achieve absolute extermination of them on this and any other island 
where they are located. Phis is important as you know. 
It is fine that you have planted seme trees on Laysan to assist 
in reestablishing the vegetation there. 1 hoj;e that enough of this can 
be done during your stay in that real on to make a real start toward 
reestablishing favorable conditions for the birds. 
Until I hear from you 1 shall be anxious as to the fate of the 
land birds which lived there and were dependent upon the bushes and 
other vegetation. 
I returned from Florida very much benefited by my trip ana am 
now back at the office in about my normal condition. 1 appear to have 
practically rid myself of the results of the grippe. Ho x . e the health 
of yourself and all others on the expeaition continues to be very good. 
I lease give my regards to Professor Gregory, Dickey aroi Reno. 
