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,