6 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



exhibition. As heretofore, the cases have been, for the most part, built 

 by contract outside of the Museum, some in Washington, some in Phil- 

 adelphia, and others in Baltimore, but a good deal of work has been 

 done within the building by carpenters and other workmen employed 

 by the day. 



A very great change has been made during the year in the appear- 

 ance of the interior, and a very decided approach towards the general 

 completion of the work accomplished. In order to accommodate the 

 increasing number of books required for the use of the curators and 

 students connected with the Museum, the original library room was 

 connected with the one above it by means of a stairway, so that prac- 

 tically two stories — the lower one with a gallery — have been provided. 

 It is thought that at least 10,000 volumes can be accommodated in this 

 manner. 



The accommodations for the storage of coal having been found insuffi- 

 cient, the vaults under the western end of the south front of the Museum 

 were more than doubled in extent during the year, and space gained 

 in addition for a blacksmith's shop and machine shop. 



Armory Building. — Very important changes have been made during 

 the year in the Armory building and its surroundings. This edifice 

 was assigned by Congress, a number of years ago, for the special service 

 of the National Museum; to which, at a later period, was added by law 

 that of the United States Fish Commission. The original intent of the 

 assignment was for the purpose of accommodating the collections ob- 

 tained at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia ; but as these were 

 removed, from time to time, to the National Museum building, after its 

 completion, the space gained was taken possession of by the Fish Com- 

 mission. The lower story, or ground floor, was converted into a great 

 fish-propagating establishment, for the hatching of shad, salmon, and 

 other food fishes ; and it was used, also, as a magazine for the distribu- 

 tion of carp, black bass, &c. The second floor was converted into a 

 series of offices, laboratories, and rooms for the messengers connected 

 with the fish -transportation service. The third floor was used as a 

 depot for supplies and materials of the Fish Commission; and the 

 fourth story is still occupied by the property of the National Museum. 



In order the better to accommodate the service of the Fish Commis- 

 sion, a switch or branch railroad track was, by the permission of the 

 Superintendent of Public Buildings and Grounds, and of the Commis- 

 sioners of the District of Columbia, introduced into the area at the south 

 of the building, on which the distribution cars of the Fish Commission 

 can be kept, and loaded directly from the Armory building. Later in 

 the year a shed in the shape of the letter L was built on the lot, the 

 short branch being used for the cars, and the long one as a depository 

 for the collections obtained from the proprietors of exhibits in the Per- 

 manent Exhibition building in Philadelphia. The construction of a 



