SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
WASHINGTON 25. D. C. 
Kure Island 
9 Nov. 1963 
Dear Maryanna: 
I just wanted to get off a short "we're all here" report for 
the plane tomorrow. We've been out of touch with the world for 
over a week now as bad weather has canceled out our flights from 
Midway, However it looks hopeful for tomorrow. I'll get in 
another formal progress report in the next week or so. Things 
are still going smoothly here, surprisingly enough. Jim smacked 
his head on a shutter the other night in the dark and messed up 
his forehead, but it's been well taken care of and I'm sure he'll 
be all right, though I imagine it will leave permanent scars. I 
wanted it to be on record in case there are any insurance or medi¬ 
cal questions, though I don't anticipate that there'll be ary. 
The albatross have descended on the island in the last few 
days in the stormy weather we've been having. As of this evening 
we've handled about 375* we're trying to get them as they come in, 
and I would estimate the population here at the moment at about 
450, but there are more coming in each day. The species ratio is 
about 4 blackfoots per one Laysan at the moment. I have a great 
many band recoveries, but I'll bring them back with me in December 
We're up to seal number 85. I caught 534 rats out of 576 trap- 
nights this last trapping period, which is about as efficient as 
a rat-trapper can get. 
I'm making good progress on the building; it's scheduled to 
be brought to Midway on the C. E. Dant (commercial freighter) 
and should be there by 20 Nov* so we can get it put up here before 
Jim and I leave. This was arranged by Lcdr. Kebschull and he 
asked in one message for some accounting data so I told him it 
could either be charged to our account 198091 with NSC Pearl, or 
billed back to the Division of Birds and I gave him our contract 
number. At that time I didH't know it was coming commercial 
freighter, but the Navy has a contract with Dant for logistic 
support for Midway so I don't know how we'll be billed for it. 
I'll try to find out before I come home. 
If approved by the head men I'd like to come back out here 
the end of February or early March and stay until early June. 
Then back out here for August, September and October of 1964. 
Then January, February, March, April of 1965 . I hope to receive 
approval of the Feb. or March return before I leave this month 
so I can leave my field gear here. Time to drop a line to the 
wife. What's the word on the New Year's Eve luau. 
Sincerely, 
