54 KEPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



instituted by liiin, with the permission of the War Department, for the 

 purpose of solving certain problems connected with the fishes of the 

 Columbia Kiver and other waters, and especially the red fish of the 

 Wallowa Lake. His collections are now in the Museum, and will be 

 duly reported upon at the proper time. 



A number of collections of fresh-water fishes from the interior of the 

 continent, especially from Utah, were furnished by Mr. Gr. K. Gilbert, 

 &c. A collection of Mississippi Valley fishes, from Prof. O. P. Hay, is 

 also highly i)rized. 



The fishes of the Gulf of IMexico were furnished in large numbers dur- 

 ing the year by Mr. Silas Stearns, of Pensacola, and Mr. S. T. Walker, 

 many of them undescribed species. 



The South Atlantic coa st is represented by some very valuable speci- 

 mens obtained by Mr. 0. C. Leslie, a fish-dealer of Charleston, who has 

 previously placed the Institution under many similar obligations. He 

 was also instrumental in securing a number of collections made from the 

 outer islands or banks of the southern coast. 



Mr. E. E. Earll and Col. M. McDonald, of the fishery census, have 

 also made and transmitted many extremely interesting collections, all 

 tending very greatly to complete the east coast sx^ecies. 



The first specimens of the eagle ray, sometimes called the devil fish, 

 obtained by the Institution were furnished by Lieutenant Sweitzer, U. 

 S. A. This species sometimes obtains an enormous magnitude, reach- 

 ing 20 or even 25 feet across the fins. 



As a regular contributor, Mr. E. G. Blackford, of Fulton Market, ISTew 

 York, has continued to furnish some very desirable species, his vigihmce 

 being constantly exercised to obtain whatever he thinks is new, and to 

 forward it to the Institution. 



The collections made by the United States Fish Commission, in its coast 

 ex[)lorations during the year, have been of unusual value, no less than 

 20 undescribed species of deep-sea fish having been taken during the 

 summer, with others not previously obtained, but already known. 



As usual a large number of rare, and some new, species were obtained 

 from the members of the Gloucester fishing fleet, through the instru- 

 mentality of Mr. A. Howard Clark, of the Fish Commission, stationed 

 at Gloucester. The most noteworthy additions to the Museum resulted 

 liom the work by the Fish Hawk, on the edge of the Gulf Stream, where 

 four day's work furnished 20 new fishes and over 150 species of mol- 

 lusks, of which about 40 were new to science. Other invertebrates of 

 interest were supplied by the Gloucester fishermen, and a number of 

 desirable species were obtained by Professor Jordan, Mr. Swan, Captain 

 Beardslee, and Messrs. Bean and Dall from the Pacific coast. 



Among interesting illustrations of the progress and results of the fish- 

 cultural operations of the country received during the year have been 

 several species of salmonida;, sent in by Mr. Stone from the McCloud 

 Eiver. Mr. N. K. Fairbanks has furnished a specimen of California 



