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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
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Dr. Alexander Wetmore, 
U. S. Biological Survey. 
March 13, 1923. 
My dear Jfetmore: 
I understand that you are leaving some time this 
week, and for fear that you will get out of town before I can 
impose upon you with a few requests for invertebrates, I am sending 
you this note. 
Of course, you have mary other varied projects in view, but 
if you can ever spare a few moments, will you not pick up whatever com¬ 
mon beach invertebrates that may come your way. One of the easiest ways 
of getting extremely valuable invertebrate material is to just shake out 
a bunch ox sea-weed in fresh water, or in salt-water, to which a little 
formalin has been added. For the time taken in such collecting, the 
returns are exceedingly valuable. As you may well Y know, the least con¬ 
spicuous invertebrates, those usually aSSocidtbfT'sea-weed, are the least 
known, hence the rarest in collections. 
Two or three small bottles of such washings are worth much more 
than a great many of the larger.common things which are usually picked up 
by collectors. 
Mr. Shoemaker, in particular, is anxious to get amphipods, and 
they too are very plentiful in sea-weed washings. 
I hope that you will be able to spare us a few moments for the 
gathering in ox some of these sea—weed washings, but whether or no, the 
best of good luck to you, and all success to your Expedition. 
Sincerely, 
WLS:C 
