Oct. 1896. Annual Report of the Director. 105 



and easy method of communication between the different divisions 

 and offices of the Museum. It has been found of the greatest utility 

 and economy. The Columbus caravels have been removed from the 

 South Chicago Ship Yards to the Main Basin in Jackson Park, and 

 secured to place and made ready for the rough weather of the winter. 

 The Viking Ship was about to be removed to the Basin, but by order 

 of the Executive Committee, the plan was changed and the ship was 

 housed at the East of the Museum, as was the case the year before. 

 Several improvements have been made in the printing office, in the 

 photographic section, and in the poisoning division; new fixtures, 

 furniture, appliances and accessories provided in each case, and the 

 scope for work improved as the demands for its performance increased. 

 The printing office now prints the mailing list, and all addresses on 

 publications are attached by a mailing machine. The poisoning 

 force is doing effective work in all departments of the Museum where 

 such services are required, and has been attached during the past 

 year to the Superintendent's jurisdiction. The presence of moths, 

 wood worms and dermestes in all parts of the Museum has necessi- 

 tated the greatest watchfulness and activity. The pests are now 

 under control, although the work is continued everywhere unremit- 

 tingly. A careful study of poisons, and advice, by correspondence, 

 from other institutions, has added much valuable information as to 

 the best methods to pursue and the most effective poisons to employ, 

 so that this very important division of the Museum now feels fully 

 equipped to meet these most dangerous enemies of all Museums. 



The work of permanent installation in the Department of 

 Anthropology has been advanced in many directions, and more 

 artisan labor has been performed, and more facilities for permanent 

 installation provided, for this Department than any other, unless it 

 may be the department of Zoology. Re-adjustment and repairs to 

 old cases and the addition of new ebony cases, many textile frames 

 and numberless ebony bases, has vastly improved the appearance of 

 the Department, while the re-arrangement of collections and the trans- 

 fer of material to obtain more suitable geographic and other significant 

 relationships has very much improved the appearance of the entire De- 

 partment. The North Court and the East Court have been entirely 

 reinstalled. The large and undesirable objects in these two courts have 

 been either returned to the donors, donated to other institutions, or 

 stored for future disposition, and the two courts are now devoted 

 almost exclusively to Archeology, the East Court to America, and the 

 North Court to Europe. Halls 10, 11, 15 and 16 have been much 

 improved in appearance by segregation, modification and the applica- 



