Transcribe Pond, J. A. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1881-06-01)

on board the following morning & the vessel just ready for sea. wishing however to carry out your suggestion though I thought it a pity to disturb the arrangements I at once went for Mr. Reischeck who received me with that suavity of manner that one expects from a young bear with a sore head. Still he accompanied me & our efforts to find the case with the Whale's head among the other cases was an incident to be remembered. After going carefully over them he pitched upon three one of which or all of which contained whales's heads & after carefully discussing the matter settled finally upon one which before I allowed it to be opened I talked over with Mr. Shipley & his foreman & found decidedly that this was from Christchurch & contained the Iron bones. But to wind the matter up quickly, I decided on your behalf &