REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 25 



3. The collection in large numbers of nearly every species known on 

 our Pacific coast, about 265 in all. About 10,000 duplicates from this 

 collection have been already distributed to the principal museums of 

 the world. 



G. The solution of many of the problems relative to the life-history of 

 the salmon. 



In April, 1880, Dr. Tarleton H. Bean, one of the assistants in the Mu- 

 seum, was detailed to visit Alaska to collect fishery statistics, fishes, 

 birds, and such other objects of interest as coald be obtained Through 

 the courtesy of Capt. Carlile P. Patterson, Superintendent of the United 

 States Coast and Geodetic Survey, and at the suggestion of Mr. W. H. 

 Dall, who was in command of the vessel, Dr. Beau was permitted to ac- 

 company the i)arty of the schooner Yukon, and was allowed all possible 

 assistance and facilities for making collections. While Mr. Dall devoted 

 his leisure more particularly to the dredging for invertebrates and bar- 

 tering for native implements and ornaments, he also contributed largely 

 to the collection of fish and other marine vertebrates. A^aluable aid was 

 extended also by Capt. E. P. Herendeeu, Mr. Marcus Baker, Mr. Wm. 

 E. j^oyes, Mr. H. W. McDonald, and Mr. Sylvanus Bailey. 



Dr. Beau was absent from April to the middle of November, and dur- 

 ing that time visited Sitka, Port Althorp, Port Mulgrave, Cook's Inlet, 

 Kodiak, the Shumagin Islands, Belkoffsky, Unalashka, Saint Paul Isl- 

 and, Plover Bay (Siberia), Cape Lisburne, Icy Cape, Point Belcher, 

 Eschscholtz Bay, Port Clarence, Big Diomede Island, and Saint Mathew 

 Island. One hundred days were spent at sea, and seventy-eight days 

 in the various ports named. When it is remembered that rain pre- 

 vented work to some extent while in port, it will be seen that the sea- 

 son of actual collecting was short ; yet the party succeeded in obtaining 

 47 packages, including 32 boxes, 10 kegs, and 3 tank-boxes of natural 

 history specimens. 



Upwards of 80 species of fish and 50 of birds were secared — some 

 rare fishes being taken in considerable numbers with a view to their 

 distribution to other museums. Of the fish Dr. Bean has already de- 

 scribed 14 species as new to science — one of them representing a new 

 genus. The chief value of the fish collection, however, lies in the fact of 

 its including many hitherto doubtful or unknown Pallasian and Tilesian 

 species. A full series of specimens was secured, which establishes the 

 identity of the commercial cod and halibut of the Atlantic and Pacific 

 Oceans. Not fewer than 14 species of fishes were collected that are 

 common to both sides of Northern America. With the addition of this 

 summer's results, the Museum is in possession of nearly all the known 

 Alaskan fishes. Eurynorhynclius pygmccus was obtained in Plover Bay, 

 and information of its occurrence at Point Barrow. Larus marinus was, 

 for the first time, taken in Alaska. A very large series of the great 

 Unalashkan song sparrow {Melospiza insignis Baird) was brought down 

 and formed the basis of demonstrating a iierfect intergradation with 



