4 
Kure Atoll, Green Island 
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
WASHINGTON 25, D. C. 
November 16, 1963 
Dear Maryanna, 
Enclosed is a copy of the letter to the Senator: I apologise for 
having stirred up such a row in this situation, I have known Toshi for so long 
and so well that on his suggestion I did not at all feel that we would be 
making use of his political influence, although apparently others have. 
After a rather rough week for me things have begun to settle down a 
bit, A week ago I ran into a shutter chasing a rat getting a concussion of mild 
sorts in the process, and later came up with a badly infected thumb. On Bill's 
strong suggestion I spent 36 hours at Midway to see the Docs and look around. 
After five X-Rays of the noggin, they determined that all the normal cracks 
and holes were still in their normal places, and they pronounced me a sorehead, 
but sane. In the little time at Midway I collected 12 birds ( 4 ducks of 3 
kinds, and a sooty petrel ) and surveyed some of the populations. Apparently 
you all back in D.C. have had the impression that we have been running regularly 
from Midway to Kure and vice-versa. This is not so, as this was the first time 
any of the Smithsonian party had been on Midway since MiBf Sept. 20 except for 
Ken's overnight sojourn there. We have not been going because we waste too much 
time enroute and we have no lab facilities there. If you want persons! on Midway 
all the time you must provide them with a similarly equiped lab to the Kure plant. 
Skinning, banding, weighing, measuring, and keeping records in the BOQ is 
simply an unacceptable manner of operation* at least for any length of time. 
At Kure for)the moment the maximum number o£ our team that we can handle is three - 
no more. With the construction crew in operation here that is the upper limit, 
but probably by spring more men can be accomodated. Accordingly, when Clapp and 
King arrive Dec. 3, I will go to Midway to work alone and leave Kure and Ken 
to train the new men. Personally, I would rather stay at Kure because of the 
amount of valuable comparative biological data that can be obtained where the 
animal populations are largely undisturbed, but since I know the tt naval ropes " 
at Midway^this is the logical move. For the 17 days that I will be spending on - 
Midway before returning stateside I will concentrate on the following - 1.) The 
banding of albatross and Bonin petrels ( iTease contact Chan and ask where precisely 
his stu dy plots are on both Sand and EasternIslands, e.g. Fuel Farm, Hospital 
corner etc.s I do not want to foul up his study areas, but with out adequate 
breifing, I will unquestionably do so.) 2.) Collection of accidentals and unusual 
birds, as well as salvaging of birds disposed by the Navy. 3 .) The determination 
of the facilities potentially avaiable to Smithsonian for the setting up of 
laboratory facilities comparable to th&se on Kure. 4.) And the obtaining of 
supplies for Kure. I would not recommend having a station of ours maintained 
at Midway: The birds there are not normal and the population is depauperate 
compared to all other atolls in the chain with the exception of accidentals. 
We can do better to direct our efforts elsewhere, and until things begin 
hopping in the spring, three men areenough for Kure. And besides, with that 
rather unbelieveable schedule that you have all laid out for us to accomplish, 
we have plenty else to do in other places. I will have a lot to say on this 
when I return in late December. 
With all of the new changes, 1 will do one myself. Since I will not 
be at Kure most of December, I will summarize the work accomplished on Midway 
from Dec. 3-20, Sept* 6-20, and Nov. 13-13' I expect that Ken will be in 
