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^[[Second draft [[circled]](Orig. of copy of this to Graf with a carbon[[/circled]] ]]

Dear Mr. Graf:
     
In accordance with your letter of instructions of March 28th, I proceeded by airplane to Balboa, Canal Zone, to join the U.S.S. MALLARD.
     
As this mode of travel permitted a maximum of only 55 pounds of baggage, I was able to take with me only the barest necessities for the trip. Also, the short notice that I had did not give me time to make more than the briefest telegraphic arrangements for certain supplies that I felt were necessary for the expedition--chiefly preservatives, bottles for specimens, and photographic film.
     
I arrived in Balboa at 4:30 p.m. and boarded the MALLARD for an eight o'clock departure. We spent the forenoon of April 2nd off Malpelo Island, Columbia. April 4th we refueled at Santa Elena, Ecuador, leaving the next morning for the Galapagos Islands.
     
Our first landfall was Freshwater Bay, Chatham Island. Here is found the one permanent fresh water supply in all the Islands. A sample of the water was obtained and given a brief chemical and bacteriological analysis. (Copies of the doctor's report and the engineer's tests are appended.) Working around to Wreck Bay, the port of entry, [[strikethrough]] on [[/strikethrough]]the same day[[strikethrough]] s [[/strikethrough]], April 7th, courtesies were exchanged with the officials there. 
     
An interesting sidelight on our Wreck Bay visit. Ashore, the Territorial Chief, Tcnel Meneses Peñaherrera, most hospitably set before us a platter of freshly sliced pineapple and served thereafter two rounds of very excellent brandy. Captain Picking,in returning the compliment, invited him and his staff to a buffet supper aboard the MALLARD, which was concluded with ice cream and cake and the best feature movie in the MALLARD's repertoire. In the course of one of the intermissions, while reels were being changed, Señor Polanca, interpreter for the Governor, leaned over to me and said, "It's wonderful that you are doing so much for us." He was genuinely moved by the kind attention given him and his countrymen.
     
The forenoon of April 8th was spent at Academy Bay, Indefatigable Island. Here two brackish springs were examined and tested for salinity (results appended). As this is the island in which we were most interested, I endeavored to obtain a census of the population, but I found that this was impossible at this time. Most of the inhabitants appear to be living in the so-called moist zone, some hours of travel distant, and no one, not even the governor at Wreck Bay, could give me any definite county. Such reports on population as were elicited from the Indefatigable residents at Academy Bay and the captain in charge of the detachment of soldiers indicated that there might be from 65 to 100 individuals, counting men, women, and children. As it was imperative that the MALLARD begin her survey of South Seymour Island, we were unable to spend more than the one half day [[strikethrough]] here [[/strikethrough]] ^[[at Academy Bay.]] 

Transcription Notes:
Not sure about transcribing the stuff at the top in pencil so I put it in anyway. Dotted "a" on Captain