Department of justice 
OFFICE OF 
MARSHAL OF THE UNITED STATES 
IN AND FOR THE 
DISTRICT OF THE CANAL ZONE 
Ancon, Canal Zone 
JOHN E. HUSHING 
UNITED STATES MARSHAL 
Dr. Alexander Wetmore 
Secretary 
Smithsonian Institution 
Washington 25, D. C. 
PETER H. BRENNAN 
DEPUTY UNITED STATES MARSHAL 
July 20, 1949 
Dear Dr. Wetmore: 
It was a pleasure to hear from you and to learn that your 
cases of specimens came through in good shape. I was able to return 
the favor Mr. Frank did for me at Pier 18 by getting them aboard. 
His brother dropped dead of a heart attack and when his estate was 
probated here in District Court, I was of material assistance to him 
and he appreciated it greatly. 
Karl left alone for the interior toward Santiaga de Veraguas, 
where he will meet Juan Gratacos, who has located a new cemetery way 
up some river. He intends to stay and dig for at least two weeks. 
Juan was down a couple of weeks ago and brought over a thousand dollars 
worth of gold, by weight, some of which Karl sold to Doctor Lathrop. 
Yes, we have made several trips to La Jagua. A native came 
in a couple of weeks ago, and reported a group of about one hundred 
Pato Real that were feeding about one hundred yards down in the swamp, 
right in front of the house. Karl, Pierce and I went out. 7/e went 
down in the swamp and stayed until aftei’ dark and did not see a single 
duck, so decided not to go back the next morning. About 10 o'clock 
the next morning, Karl was doing some repairs around the house. Pierce 
was tinkering on his truck, and I was making a big sanchocho. I 
happened to walk from the kitchen to the wood pile for wood, and as I 
looked down in the swamp a big flock of white heron got up and about 
fifty big Pato Real got up with them and flew away in the general direc¬ 
tion of Chepo, and continued on out of sight. We stood there open- 
mouthed, and all agreed we had never seen a group of Patos at that time 
of morning. But the native had told the truth about them being there. 
