This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
[[white lined paper, black ink]] GBY file Rep. [[stamp]]OCT 8 1883[[/stamp]] [[printed letterhead]]Smithsonian Institution Washington[[/printed letterhead]], Oct. 5, 1883 [[following text is handwritten cursive text in black ink]] Dear Sir: I mentioned in my last monthly report that I am writing an [[underlined]]appendix [[/underlined]] to my work, treating of fishing implements and fish-representations discovered [[underlined]]south of Mexico.[[/underlined]] While making the necessary investigations, I find that the material grows under my hands. There is in our collection a large fish-sculpture from Costa Rica (of the shape indicated in the enclosed sketch), which I should like to [[?]] and describe, but, as it was sent by Mr. Keith through the mediation of Mr. Bransford, I do not know whether I am at liberty to utilize it for my work. [[Mr.?]] Bransford, however, will be absent for several years. I leave the matter to