46 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



The National Museum was established by the Government in 1842, 

 and consisted of the specimens collected by the Wilkes exploring exi^e- 

 ditiou. It was transferred from the Patent Office to the care of the 

 Smithsonian Institution in 1858, where it has been enlarged by all the 

 collections made by exploring and surveying parties of the several 

 bureaus of the War, Navy, Treasury, and Interior Departments, and 

 those of the Smithsonian Institution. 



At first, $4,000 were allowed by Congress for the care and exhibition 

 of the specimens. This sum has been gradually increased to $20,000. 

 Nothing, however, has been allowed for the rent of the building, which 

 was erected exclusively out of the income from the bequest of Smith- 

 son. 



The following report from Prof. Spencer F. Baird, Assistant Secre- 

 tary, gives an account of the additions to the Museum and the various 

 operations connected with it during the year 1875: 



Increase of the National Museum. — The year 1875 constitutes a marked 

 epoch in the history of this establishment, the increase in the number 

 and comparative value of the specimens received, as also the work done 

 in connection with the same, being much greater than that of any pre- 

 vious year. This is due partly to the natural increase year by year, which 

 has been experienced since 18G5, but more particularly as the result of 

 special efforts made to prepare a suitable exhibition of the natural his- 

 tory and ethnology of the country at the International Exhibition of 

 1876. 



For the purpose of enabling the Institution to exhibit a satisfactory 

 display of the mineral, animal, fishery, and ethnological condition of 

 the country, an appropriation was made by Congress of $07,000, sub- 

 ject, however, to a deduction for the erection of a building and the 

 preparation of the surrounding grounds for that occasion. As this 

 amounted to about $17,000, the sum actually available was $50,000. In 

 addition to this, $5,000 was appropriated for the department of the food- 

 fishes. 



As many important gaps existed in the collection of American animals, 

 speedy efforts were made to i)rocure such as were wanting, or to replace 

 such as were in bad condition. 



The object of the exhibition in question was to present the industrial 

 relations and applications of American natural history and geology; 

 and as this had been entirely neglected previously, it became necessary' 

 to commence from the beginning and study out a plan of operations 

 after determining the general character of the exhibit that was to be 

 made. With this view, a series of circulars was prepared on the diOerent 

 subjects, and sent to all the correspondents of the Institution, accom- 



