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3 
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
March 6, 1946. 
Dr. Alexander Wetraore, 
c/o Mr. James Zetek, 
Canal Zone Biological Area, 
Drawer C, 
Balboa, Canal Zone. 
Dear Doctor letmore: 
The Arthur Lecture came off all right last night. In his intro¬ 
ductory remarks Dr. Schmitt compared the oceans to hydroponics, and I thought 
it made a very interesting and clever introduction to his speech. He gave 
what I thought was a very concentrated lecture on marine biology, bringing in 
from time to time the effect of the sun. There Were 176 people present, 
which was a considerably larger audience than I had expected in the circum¬ 
stances; and as far as I could find by talking with several of the people 
present, they thought that Waldo had done a very good job. 
I have had talks with both Gazin and Cooper within the last few 
days in connection with the men they are looking for as their principal 
assistants. It is not easy to get the men they have in mind. As a matter of 
fact, they have already been turned down by several people who were apparently 
pretty well located. In view of the situation, I think it would be well for 
them to go ahead as rapidly as possible even in your absence, since if they 
wait until your return they may lose out on several other men. The situation 
is as follows: Gregory of Michigan finally turned down Gazin. Gregory, of 
course, was his first choice, and I am sorry we missed him; but the fact that 
he was offered the place will not hurt us in any way. The present candidates 
are as follows: 
M t 
■juy. 
Dunkle, who is a specialist in fossil fishes, is according to 
|\\{A ^ ' Gazin, a sound scientific worker and has an agreeable personality. He 
‘ is rather quiet, but Gazin thinks he is a very good man. 
Jf » 
Sawin, a specialist in fossil reptiles, is reported by Gazin 
to be a very good scientist. 
Sam Welles, specialist in reptiles, is a very good field man, but 
Gazin is not so certain as to the competence of his scientific work. 
John Wilson, specialist in reptiles, apparently is not so well 
known to Gazin. Gazin reports that he is quite meek, even more so 
than Dunkle. 
Gazin has had some conversation with you on these people. Apparently the 
sticking point is whether we should get a reptile or a fish man. I think 
Gazin would prefer a reptile man since the field apparently is a larger one 
For the immediate present, of course, a fish man would not hurt us at all, 
since we are in arrears on our fish work. I am under the impression that 
