SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
October 26, 1932. 
Dr. A. Wetmore, 
c/o Dr. H. S. Colton, 
Flagstaff, Arizona. 
Dear Dr. Wetmore: 
I have received your wire of the 24th as 
follows: 
"Discuss proposed South Sea trip with 
Bartsch and Stejneger Stop Suggest tow net 
collections bottom samples fishes and work 
of that type as most profitable Stop Is 
not in Bs.rtschs field but if he wishes to 
make trip he is proper one Stop Might be 
possible to arrange for man from Navy to 
make depth sounding records with modern 
devices Stop Men must be chosen carefully 
in view of nature of party." 
Your statement of this subject agrees exactly with the 
ideas Dr. Abbot had on the matter. ?»e are naturally 
limited owing to the fact that Mr. Johnson desires to 
stay pretty much at sea during the two months, January 
15 to March 15. From present indications the cruise 
will probably be among the lesser Antilles, end from 
present plans, Stirling will be taken along and dropped 
off on the Island of Dominica near Martinique where 
reports have it that a small tribe of the original 
Indians of the West Indies are still living. He will 
then be picked up on the return home. Tentatively, Dr. 
Bartsch has been selected to go along to do the marine 
collecting. Mr. Johnson is very strong for developing 
some deep sea trap using lights as a lure to collect 
the deep sea fish and bring them to the surface in such 
a manner that they can be studied. I believe that he 
will plan on working out the details of this trap him¬ 
self with what general help in the way of suggestions 
can be given him from this quarter. Apparently, his 
