SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20560 
October 7, 1964 
Mrs. Maryanna Smellow 
Research Secretary 
Pacific Project, Div. of Birds 
Smithsonian Institution 
Wash* 25, D.C. 
Dear Maryanna: 
Some recent developments and short supplies here prompt a letter to the 
headquarters in D.C. First and most important, the C.O. here has found 
an old C<$st Guard regulation requiring the charging of $2.5Q/day for 
food for all people staying on the base and drawing per diem allowances. 
Therefore, as of 1 October, 1964 all S.T, personnel will be paying this 
new amount - $2.50 per day, while staying on Sand-Johnston. I suspect that 
this will necessitate a raising of our per diem from S.I. to cover the 
rising cost of living in this Pacific Atoll? 
Articles that w^e are short of at present are: alcohol, masking tape, 
and, most important, plastic bags. We have reams of Whirl-packs, but only 
4 more regular plastic sacs - dimensions are: 16* x 5 n when folded in from 
the sides as they come from the factoryq We have recently preserved 
several reef fish in alcohol, and so are very short of this also. I think 
we wrote you as to our needs for more band recovery forms. 
Most of the birds here seem to have departed for the open sea. There 
are almost no Sooties left, and w w e can hear crickets at night - rather 
a pleasant change. The island seems desolate in comparison to the first 
few weeks herej I imagine the activity here xtjkien things are in full 
swing is incredible. 
As you probably know, Kure is keeping a Booby as a pet. Not to be 
outdone, we found a Frigate with a dislocated shoulder 3 days ago, and 
so are taking care of it. With a hooked bill over 5 W long and a w ing 
spread over 6*, we have our hands full. 
I can not agree w ith you that Kirkpatrick would be better off in 
D.C. What could possibly be better than w orking with sea birds in the 
Pacific? Even so, I hope that all of you in D.C. are as happy and eager 
as we are out here. 
Sincerely, 
Cameron B. Kepler 
Research As istant 
Pacific Project 
