Pinchot South Sea Expedition (1929)

The Pinchot South Sea Expedition took place aboard the yacht "Mary Pinchot" under the leadership of the Hon. Gifford Pinchot. It departed New York City on March 31, 1929 for a cruise of about ten months and roughly 7,500 miles through the Caribbean and South Pacific Ocean. The group headed south to Key West, and then spent time on various islands throughout the Caribbean Sea before reaching Panama. From there, they traveled through the Panama Canal and then to several islands in the Pacific. The last destination, Tahiti, was reached on October 15. The party finally returned by steamer to San Francisco. Members of the expedition staff included biologist Dr. A. K. Fisher of the U.S. Biological Survey, Assistant Secretary Alexander Wetmore of the Smithsonian Institution, and Dr. Henry A. Pilsbry from the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Dr. Howard H. Cleaves was the official photographer of the expedition, which was also joined by Mrs. Pinchot. Collecting during the expedition was done in both the Caribbean and the South Pacific, and was completed for the U.S. National Museum. Locations in the Caribbean included Grand Cayman, Swan and Little Swan Islands, Old Providence and St. Andrew's Island, from which 57 species were collected. Major sites in the Pacific included areas of Marquesas Islands [Marquises, Îles], Galapagos Islands [Archipelago de Colón], Tuamotu Islands, Cocos Island, and Tahiti. Many bird specimens were collected in both areas, and interesting notes on the habits of birds from the region were made. Additionally, a number of fish specimens were also collected from the Galapagos and Marquesas Islands representing 69 species.