Transcribe Sweeny, R. V. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1876-02-17)

     L'ETOILE DU NORD

OFFICE OF Fish Commissioners State of Minnesota Saint Paul Feby 17th 1876 Henry A. Ward Esqu. Rochester New York. Dear Sir: Excuse me for not before answering your letters - but I will now Seriaties to your first request for the Crustaceans, I found where I went to get them, that they were not to be found. I then sent a man who is used to such work to collect me a lot - but the cold had hurried them into winter quarters and ^in a^ whole days search got not a single specimen. Your  ? did not find me able to discover the missing bottle. About the Bears I have kept a look out and have seen 15 or 16 but most of them were so young that the skeletons would be worthless and the only large ones were so mangled as to be useless The price from 25 to 35 dollars whole carcass skin and all. A week or so since in taking account of stock in my store the missing bottle was found & I will send you some of them. Now about those shells &. you sent me - I have duplicates of every one of them in abundance - and if you had offered me