44 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



Nelson in Northwestern Alaska. As explained in previous reports, Mr. 

 Nelson was nominated by the Smithsonian Institution to General Myer 

 as a signal observer at Saint Michael's, a station on Norton Sound, south 

 of Behring Strait — a district of very great interest in both an ethnologi- 

 cal and natural-history point of view; and although numerous collec- 

 tions had previously been received from that region, as made by Messrs. 

 Dall, Kennicott, Pease, Bannister, and Turner, there was still enough 

 unaccomplished to make it important that the work should be con- 

 tinued. The institution was fortunate in being able to secure the aid of 

 Mr. Nelson, as being a most excellent naturalist and particularly well 

 acquainted with the vertebrate animals of North America. 



Mr. Nelson proceeded to his station at Saint Michael's, and has re- 

 mained there ever since, of course devoting the principal portion of his 

 time to his duties as signal observer, and, it is understood, to the satis- 

 faction of his superiors, while bis leisure has been employed in making 

 observations and collections of natural history. Previous reports have 

 noted the additions already made by him. The collection of 1879 is 

 especially important in an ethnological point of view; not less than three 

 thousand specimens of Indian and Esquimaux work in the way of carv- 

 ings, implements, clothing, domestic and household utensils, games, &c, 

 have been received. These filled fourteen large boxes, the remainder of 

 the collection consisting chiefly of birds, eggs, and fishes. The total 

 number of pieces furnished by Mr. Nelson amounts to 2,935. 



Mr. Nelson is preparing an elaborate report on the natural history 

 and ethnology of Northwestern Alaska for publication after his return. 



The labors of Mr. Lucien M. Turner in the Aleutian Islands have also 

 been prosecuted during the year, and bave furnished, as heretofore, a 

 large amount of interesting material for the National Museum. 



Mr. Turner, as mentioned in previous reports, like Mr. Nelson, is one 

 of the observers of the United States Signal Service, and has under his 

 cbarge a number of temporary stations along the entire extent of the 

 Aleutian Islands. The supervision of these stations makes it necessary 

 for him to go from point to point as an opportunity is furnished, thus 

 allowing a chance to study the natural history and ethnology of a 

 widely-extended region. The greater part of the season of 1879 was 

 passed at Sitka, his principal station, however, being Unalaska. 

 Among the collections sent down by him, besides some very finely- 

 prepared specimens of birds (among them species of great rarity), was 

 a series of very elaborate and delicate carvings in bone made by the 

 Aleutian Islanders. 



('apt. L. A. Beardslee, of the Navy, who for several years had been 

 detailed by the Navy Department to take charge of the steamers fur- 

 nished to the United States Pish Commission, especially the "Blue 

 Light" and the " Speedwell," was sent out during the early part of the 

 year in command of the sloop-of-war Jamestown to look alter the 

 interest of the citizens of the United States in Alaskan waters. With 



