September
5, 1994
Dear
Bill:
Thank
you for your letter. I have spent most of the summer in Saudi except for three
weeks in July when I cut my hay. I’m just been home a week and on Sept. 29
will go back to Saudi to check on my birds and then on to Shanghai for two
weeks to do a feasibility study. While in Shanghai I will certainly take time
to check on what you call my colonies of
geese.
In
regard to having access to the chicken bones excavated in Thailand: I urge you
to contact Charmion McKusick (Route 1 Box 35D, Globe Arizona, 85501) to whom
bones speak. Mind you I have no idea of her possible interest but she
certainly has the expertise you lack.
I
will send her a copy of your letter and of this letter to you and mention that
George Carter is a long time correspondent of yours. And I will send copies to
George as well.
I
now have both the Tsiaya, an egg laying breed and the Kiaya, the breed which
supplies the female for artificial insemination with Muscovy semen to make
mule ducks, in Saudi. The toleration of the ducks to 45-47° daily is
testimony to the marvellous efficiency of their feet as radiators of heat.
These birds have only a shed with a Corrugated steel roof and a tiny pond but
the females are laying 75%. I have no taken the temperature of the water but
the temperature of the water in fish ponds in Saudi is 8-10° less than the
ambient temperature.
Be
of good cheer!