Viewing page 67 of 135

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

May 27, 1941

Lt.-Cmdr. T. J. Kelly
U.S.S. BRAZOS
c/o The Postmaster
San Pedro, California

Dear Kelly:

You are just about the best friend a fellow ever had. I am flattered, complimented, and deeply grateful for your kind thought of me. There is nothing I would rather do than to get back up to Alaska. I have been there only twice in my life, but it is really fascinating country, and for Kodachrome picture-taking there is none better. I call it the land of gorgeous sunsets and beautiful rainbows. With commercial gear, one gets fish up there by the ton and, for your sake, I hope it pans out for rod and reel. 

Just now the Museum is tied up with Latin American projects, and one of them just took me down to the Galapagos and back this past month. I had the great pleasure of going out on the MALLARD under Captain Picking, who was in command of the little squadron of submarines that made the trip. This trip, it seems, will lead to another shortly, which will tie me up, I am afraid, the balance of this year. 

Hang it all, I would love to go with you! Accommodations wouldn't faze me, for on the MALLARD I slept on a cot in the pilot house. They were full up with a special survey party. Maybe one of these days we'll get together again. I sincerely hope so. You should have been with us in the Galapagos. There was some grand fishing, and I believe we got six or eight species that we did not get in '38. One of them was a big, two-and-a-half-foot goggle-eye, as it is called in Walford's book. 

I trust all goes well with you and yours. The Schmitts are all in fine fettle and getting more war-minded every day. My young hopeful, who is up in the twenties now, is down at Fort Benning getting special training as a National Guard lieutenant. He is looking forward to a regular army job. He has applied for it, and if they