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May 9, 1934

Mr. Edward Svrsek
Sweetwater, British Columbia 
Canada

Dear Mr. Svrsek:

The National Geographic Society has referred your letter inquiring about Juan Fernandez to me for reply.

Juan Fernandez is a most delightful spot in which to live, but certainly not one in which to seek a living. There is scarcely enough work in connection with the lobster fishery to keep the present population going, and I am sure that the local inhabitants would not welcome any other people seeking employment. Though I have not been there for some years, I am sure the depression has made itself very much felt in that place, for certainly Chile, as a whole, is in a very bad way financially. Your opportunities for obtaining work are better here in North America at the present time than they would be anywhere in South America.

Funds sufficient to get you to Juan Fernandez would not be enough. You would need money to carry you for several years after you arrived in Juan Fernandez or in Chile, at least under present day conditions.

A passport is required of all people going to any of the South American countries, and there are very strict prohibitions against the importation of fire arms or ammunition. In countries where they have revolutions it is even extremely difficult for a scientific collector to carry fire arms of any sort.

Any atlas or geography should show the location of Juan Fernandez, which is approximately 700 miles due west of Valparaiso. The Canadian Hydrographic office could supply charts more accurate and better than anything you will find in the usual atlas or geography, as could also the U. S. Hydrographic Office, c/o Navy Department, Washington, D. C. The charts of either country are carried in all sea ports.