John
Skinner
University of Wisconsin - Madison - USA
14-9-1985
Dear
John,
Received
your letter and 2 enclosures for which I thank you very much. Yes, the
waterfowl booklet would be most acceptable. It could prove handy for reference
although I am not a waterfowl man myself. I really appreciate you sending me a
copy of American Poultry History 1823-1973. I will be most indebted to you,
I can assure you.
OK
on your judging appointment at the moment. I have done a little judging but
will not be doing any more. I’m afraid I don’t have the temperament for it
and apart from that my eyesight is not good enough, I had a cataract removed
from one of my eyes some four months ago which had complications and I’m
still having problems. I can’t expect to get a great amount of sight in it
unfortunately. As I think I told you I am working on the next book Gallus
species. I will have the supplement to it ready shortly which covers the
further chicken bone information I will send you a copy of the supplement when
it is ready. The whole book should be ready by Christmas. The information I
received from the China connection throws the earlier documentation on the
origins into chaos as it is dated around 5000 BC.
I
have made an approach through my local parliamentary member to the Federal
Government for some of financial assistance to continue my research and
publishing. However I’m not very confident but no harm in trying. They are
pretty hard to crack. I had no luck with my State Government.
I
noted with interest the activities of the APAS which is very commendable.
There was anyone some few years back tried to do something of that nature in
Australia. However it appears to have fizzled out which is unfortunate. At the
time I offered assistance as I have some 800 copies of a newspaper called Poultry
which was published in Sydney from 1918 to 1970. If I don’t run out of time
I intend to do histories of the four breeds made up in Australia using these
papers as a source. They contained some very good information both for the
commercial industry and the fancier.
If
this information in not recorded it may be lost for all time. I’m afraid in
Australia it’s hard to get someone working on these sort of things. Of
interest perhaps to you is that the recently formed Plymouth Rock Club of
Australia have compiled and published a standard for the Plymouth Rock in
Australia. I you would like a copy I will photostat it for you. They have the
American Standard as a basis for they borrowed some of my earlier American
Standards while compiling their Standard.
We
of the Pekin Bantam Club of the NSW are in the process at the moment of
setting up the colour standard for the Pekin (Cochin) Bantam in Australia.
When we finish the colour we will revise the standard (British is used at the
moment) overall for the Australian Pekin. The copy of your letter
inadvertently came with the other material so am enclosing it for your file.
Once again thanks for everything. Had my first hatching of chickens to
27-8-85. Good hatch too. Spring is on the way. Will be able to get my shirt
off and darken up the skin.
Regards,