REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1921. 107 



A very complete series of specimens illustrating steps in the manu- 

 facture and use of the "chank" shell of India, was contributed by 

 Dr. Hugh M. Smith, United States Commissioner of Fisheries. This 

 shell held in veneration by the Hindus, is collected by divers in the 

 Gulf of Manar, off the coast of Travancore and elsewhere in India, 

 and has been used from time immemorial for bracelets, armlets, 

 charms, etc. 



The Museum's extensive collection of authentic commercial raw 

 materials used in American industries was increased by the efforts of 

 Mr. A. E. Carlton, American consul at Medan, Sumatra, wdio sent 

 through the State Department, eight samples of Hevea rubber, rep- 

 resenting all the grades produced and sold in that market, including 

 the grades most in demand for making automobile tires. 



Mr. Dan P. Steeples, of Sumner, Wash., presented to the Museum, 

 a large sheet of so-called " fungus paper," a wonderfully preserved 

 piece of the leathery velvet-like mycelium or absorbing organ of a 

 parasitic fungus, Fornes laricis, which is rather common upon Douglas 

 fir, larch, pines, and other species of trees in the Northwestern States. 

 Several hundred years ago, a similar material, called surgeons' 

 fungus, was used as a styptic for stopping bleeding and for binding 

 wounds, like a plaster. 



EXPLORATIONS AND EXPEDITIONS. 



No expeditions or trips of any great importance were made by any 

 member of this division during the year. The International Silk 

 Show, held at the Grand Central Palace, New York City, February 

 7 to 12, 1921, was attended by the curator in response to the invita- 

 tion from the management that the National Museum be represented 

 officially by exhibits and a member of the staff. Advantage was 

 taken of this opportunity for enlisting the cooperation of the most 

 important manufacturers of silk fabrics in the extension of the 

 Museum's exhibits, resulting in the accession of two valuable groups 

 of fabrics and the promise of many others. 



Through "the courtesy of the Hammermill Paper Co., of Erie, Pa., 

 the assistant curator, section of wood technology, was enabled to visit 

 the plant at Erie from May 11 to 15, 1921, and study under the most 

 favorable conditions the manufacture of high-grade sulphite paper. 

 As a result of this trip, two separate but closely related series of 

 specimens are being prepared for the Museum ; one qualitative, show- 

 ing every step in the manufacture of paper from spruce wood; the 

 other quantitative, showing the exact amounts of every material re- 

 quired to make 100 pounds of bond paper. 



WOEK OB* PKESEKVING AND INSTALLING COLLECTIONS. 



All of the collections under the care of the curator have been care- 

 fully inspected for insects, and all perishable material like wools and 



