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December
3rd
1934

Captain Whitlan
Office of Indian Affairs
Department of Interior
Seattle, Washington

My dear Captain Whitlam:-

I just missed meeting you several times when I was serving on the NORTHLAND in 1929 and 1930. We watched for the Boxer and sighted her a number of times but never lay near her while I was aboard. I was detailed as Dental Surgeon and in addition to the relief I was able to give the poor suffering natives, I also made a study of their food, health and teeth. I am now preparing to go to the Kuskokwim to continue this study, making Bethel my headquarters. My son and I shall be able to reach Seattle about June 20th to proceed north. Doctor Ales Hrdlicka has given my considerable information but he is not familiar with the tide, tidal currents, depth of water, etc. I have gotten the local chart from the Coast & Geodetic Survey and the pilots I and II with corrections. Capt. E. D. Jones of the NORTHLAND 1929, 30, 31 suggested that I write to you for information.

I am planning a sturdy boat about 26' x 9' x 12" with V-shaped bottom using a 40 H.P. engine. My son and I shall be aboard and I have written to Mrs. Lulu Heron of Bethel to learn if I can get a Moravian missionary and a dependable native to go with us.

I shall greatly appreciate any advice you can give me about the rise and fall of tide, tidal currents and depth of water along the northwest coast up to the Kinak River - shown on may of Interior Dept.- We also should like information about the rivers as we want to go up them to study the settlements of tundra Eskimo. I shall deeply appreciate your kindness and should have this information before finally deciding on the plans for my boat. We must be as economic as possible as I am personally having to finance the cruise.

LMW.J
Yours very truly

L. M. Waugh
Professor of Dentistry
Director Orthodontia Clinic