REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 45 



Sitka as his headquarters lie was enabled to exercise a supervision over 

 tbe Indians of the adjacent parts of the country. 



The experience which Captain Beardslee acquired during his service 

 with the Fish Commission, in making observations on the natural and 

 physical conditions of the water, prepared him more fully for his re- 

 searches in this new field, and the Institution gladly accepted his offer 

 of service and supplied him with necessary apparatus. No specimens 

 have so far been received from Captain Beardslee, but a consignment is 

 expected in the early part of 1880. 



An extensive exploration of the islands and waters of the North 

 Pacific, indeed even through Behring Strait, was made during the 

 last summer by the "Richard Rush," Captain Bailey, commander. 

 Before starting, her surgeon, Dr. White, of the Marine Hospital Serv- 

 ice, offered his services to the Institution in making such collections as 

 might be designated; and as a trained naturalist, experienced in re- 

 search, having prosecuted his studies in Edinburgh under the direction 

 of Sir Wyville Thompson and others, his proposition was gladly ac- 

 cepted. Many collections of much interest were made by Dr. White 

 and duly received by the Smithsonian Institution. They consist for 

 the most part of embryonic or foetal seals, porpoises, &c, various fishes, 

 and many marine invertebrates. Skins and skeletons of several spe- 

 cies of seals were also included. 



The "Jeannctte." — Much interest was excited during the past year by 

 the announcement that the " Pandora," an English vessel, which had 

 already been engaged in Arctic research iu the hands of Capt. Allen 

 Young was to be employed in a similar service, entirely at the expense 

 of Mr. James Gordon Bennett, of New York, as the " Jeanuette," 

 under the command of Lieutenant De Long, an officer of the United 

 States Navy, who had already had a Northern experience in the Green- 

 land Seas while in search of the " Polaris." The " Jeannette " was taken 

 by Lieutenant De Long to San Francisco, by way of Cape Horn; her 

 commander returning overland to the East, and spending some time in 

 Washington in obtaining his outfit and instructions. The Smithsonian 

 Institution was requested by Mr. Bennett to nominate a competent 

 naturalist for the expedition, and selected Mr. Raymond L. Newcombe, 

 of Salem, Mass., who joined the steamer in San Francisco, and with her 

 left tor the North. Letters received, both from him and Captain De 

 Long, and written at Saint Michael's, Alaska, show that a large amount 

 of work has been accomplished in the way of natural history research ; 

 and it is hoped that the results of the expedition will be commensurate 

 with the expectations of all interested. At the last advices from the 

 "Jeanuette" she was seen by a whaling captain in the vicinity of Wrau- 

 gel Land, this being her main objective point. 



Professor Jordan, who has been detailed by Mr. Goode to work up 

 the fisheries of the Pacific coast of the United States, reported at the 

 Smithsonian Institution in Washington, in December, 1879, and there 



