BIRD DEPT. LIBRARY ROLLO HOWARD BECK PLANADA, MERCED COUNTY CALIFORNIA December 5 1937 Dear Doctor Murphy; Some years ago I entertained the thought that I might shortly write a few notes on happenings during a collecting trip to the South Seas. Some years have passed and the notes are no farther advanced. Seeing in the Annual Report of the Museum recently that you were engaged in work on Petrels and Oceans I thought it likely you would derive more profit from the log of the schooner France in the next few years than I would therefore I take pleasure in mailing to you the Captains log during the time I was aboard When I finally get this fig orchard to bearing a decidedly better grade of figs than it has so far yielded I may really turn the old time thought into action and might ask for the loan of the logbook for a brief period. Sincerely, R. H. Beck "A larger proportion of high grade figs" might be a better way of expressing my yearly desires. Mrs Beck joins in sending best wishes to yourself and family H. S. C. CO. Inc. No. 300