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[[letterhead]]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
BUREAU OF FISHERIES
WASHINGTON

ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO
COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES
WASHINGTON, D.C. 
[[/letterhead]]

February 3, 1914

Mr. Waldo L. Schmitt,
Fisheries Str. Albatross,
Vallejo, Calif. 

Dear Mr. Schmitt:

In reply to your letter of January 21, you are advised that Miss Rathbun called on me a few days ago and expressed the entire willingness of the Museum to defer calling for your services until such time as the forthcoming investigations of the Albatross could be brought to a satisfactory conclusion. Miss Rathbun informed me that she would write to you to that effect, and I have no doubt that you have already received her letter and fully understand the Museum's attitude. I believe that when you reach the field and come to fully understand the conditions, it will be apparent to you that the halibut investigations will not be concluded before September at the earliest, and that they may reach into the beginning of October. 

The results of the reconnoissance in Alaska were so unsatisfactory, and they have been so severely criticised by the practical men for whose information they were intended, that it is quite apparent that if we desire to do anything of economic value, it will be necessary to carry the inquiry over practically the entire fishing season, so as to make