424 University Farm Place 
December 26, 1940 
Mr. Harold W. Sto.e, As-istant Dean 
Graduate Scho 1 
Bascom Hall 
Der 1r. Stoke: 
I wish to present for at-roval by yoreself, Dean Fred, and the Research 
Comittee the following plan for completing our work on the prairie chicken

invetiation. (Wildlife Ihaagement as Applied to Pinnated and Sharptailed

Grouse. ) 
A grant was made to this project this year with the understanding that if

nn opening developed in the Conservation Department to continue this work,

Eamerstrom would accept it and turn in the unexpended balance. T1e oppor-

tunity to continue this work in the Conservation Department did not material-

ize, bit H~emrstrom h-s now received an offer from the University of 
Michigan which will enable Lim to continue part-ttLe with work on these 
birds. 
Michigan wants him to r;port February 1, but is willing to have hir return

here April I for six wee s to make a final year's observation on breeding

behavior. It hap -ens that Hamerstrom has an assistant trained by him be-

fore he came to the University who is willing t) k-e. the winter trs iag

going during HRierstroio's absence during Februar and March, and also to

continue the breeding ground observations from May 15 to the end of the 
year. I, therefore, ask for your approval of "leave of absence"
for 
Hamerstrom during February and March, anid from Sny 15 to the end of the

year, the stipend to continue during these absences in consideration of 
Hamerstrom's keeping the work going during this period. 
The advantage to us is that this arrangement would give us three years re-

sults instead of two. In my o inion this would double or treble the value

of the results. Under the grants and fello-ships which te Graduate School

has made during the past three years, over 200 birds have been banded. This

banding ia a very laborious procedure and hard to accomnlish in this sreCles.

The proposed arrangemn t would enable us to realize on this past investment

of time and labor. 
Another advantage is that Dr. R.K. -eyer started last year to make endo-

crine er 3eriments on birds furnished by liaznerstrom, and the proposed arrange-

ment would enable us to again trap a uip-ly for his use.