Vol, V] EVERM ANN— DIRECTOR'S REPORT FOR 1915 213 



the 86-foot Sulphur-bottom Whale skeleton. Nor is there any 

 room for suitably displaying any of the many large and very 

 interesting collections of minerals, ores, woods, and other ob- 

 jects received from the Exposition; we have not even storage 

 room for many of the exhibition cases, tables, etc., received 

 from the Exposition. 



In order to relieve this congestion, to avoid the necessity 

 of placing exhibits in halls in which they do not logically be- 

 long, and to enable the museum to place on exhibition habitat 

 groups and other exhibits already prepared or available for 

 preparation, an additional hall is immediately necessary. Per- 

 haps the most practical and economical thing to do would be 

 to glass over and close in the court between the two rear wings. 

 According to estimates gotten a year ago, this could be done 

 for about $9000.00. It would doubtless cost more now owing 

 to the increased cost of materials. To close in the court and 

 provide a second floor or balcony which would greatly increase 

 the exhibiton space, provide the necessary cases, etc., would 

 now probably require a total of about $20,000. 



An alternative would be the construction of a hall across 

 the rear corresponding to the Mammal Hall. This addition 

 would have the same dimensions as the Mammal Hall, but 

 should be very different in internal structure. Its cost would 

 probably not exceed $40,000. 



Taxidermists' Shop. — Until recently the taxidermists have 

 used a building of Mr. Rowley's in Berkeley as a taxidermists' 

 shop, for which the Academy paid $300 a year rent. Now that 

 we have moved into the new museum building, it is necessary 

 to have a work shop nearer at hand. A building is needed in 

 which to store the animals, etc., which have not yet been pre- 

 pared and to carry on all the preparatory work of the Depart- 

 ment of Exhibits. It is estimated that such a building as is 

 required, together with proper equipment, could be built for 

 $1500. It would be located in the rear of the present building 

 at a place acceptable to the Park Superintendent. 



Exhibits. — It is highly desirable that the habitat groups in 

 the two exhibition halls be put in place at an early date. The 

 large habitat groups for which space has been provided should 

 be installed as rapidly as possible. The same should be done 

 with the small habitat groups of mammals and birds. 



