BIG GAME FISH

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 69, 14 December 1938, Page 10

BIG GAME FISH

Expedition To Arrive

Next Month

AMERICAN PROJECT

Specimens For Museum In

New York

An expedition, composed of members of the staff of the American Museum of National History, New York, will arrive in New Zealand next month to secure specimens of the Dominion’s biggame fish. Still and moving pictures: of the same subjects will be taken. 'lhe Minister in Charge of the Tourist and Publicity Department, Mr. Langstone, has instructed his department to get in touch with other Government departments concerned so that the expedition may be assisted in every possible way.

In a letter to the Tourist and Publicity Department, Mr. Roy Chapman Andrews, director of the museum, and a well-known author, states:— “The expedition plans to arrive at Auckland by the Mariposa on January 20. It plans not only to secure records of fish life in New Zealand waters, but to assemble illustrative material for the equipment of our proposed new building which is to be devoted chietly to the natural history of Australia and New Zealand. “Even before the proposed new building is ready, we plan to install motion and sound pictures illustrating the natural history and civilization of those countries in our regular auditorium programmes. By such presentations ami by tlie large new exhibits we hope to encourage many of our students, scientists, tourists and game fishermen to visit these our kindred democracies in the far south, and so to increase the closeness of our scientific and friendly contacts with vour country and Australia. “After our stay in New Zealand, we plan to cross to Australia for similar purposes. The City of New York, it is expected, will erect the building at a cost of one million and a half dollars, thus completing the eastern facade of tlie museum. “This expedition, as now planned, will consist of Mr. Michael Lerner, our field associate in the department of fishes, one of the world’s leading big game fishermen, and Mrs. Lerner; Dr. William King Gregory, curator of recent and fossil fishes, Associate m Physical Anthropology and _ Professor of Palaeontology in Columbia University ; Mr. 11. C. Raven, associate curator in the department of comparative anatomy, and one of the most expertenced expedition men in our country; Mr. G. Miles Conrad, assistant curator of comparative anatomy; and Mr. Ludwig Ferragito, taxidermist-artist, .of our department of arts, preparation and exhibition. There will also be a fishing guide and cameramen. The photographs and moving pictures taken will be solely for museum use. “Mr. M. Lerner expects to do big game fishing in New Zealand. His catches will be used for study and exhibit in our museum, as have been his catches from three previous museum expeditions to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, and to the Bahama Islands.” The director closes with'renewed expressions of hope for further friendly contact between the museums and scientists of America and New Zealand.