REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 55 



salmon, caught in Geneva Lake during the summer, weighing about 10 

 pounds, this being undoubtedly one of the young fish introduced into 

 that lake some years before, hatched from eggs supplied by the United 

 States Fish Commission from the McCloud Eiver establishment. 



Another important specimen was that of a carp, from Mr. G. B. Mob- 

 ley, of Texas. This fish was one of a sending into Texas by the United 

 States Fish Commission in April, 1880, at which time it was about 4 

 inches long and probably weighed but little over an ounce. Eight 

 months after it was brought back from Texas to Washington, measur- 

 ing 21 inches and weighing more than four pounds ! a very remarkable 

 illustration of the rapidity of the growth of this fish in America. 



The acquisition, through the instrumentality of Mr. E. W. Denuison, 

 of Boston, of a large brook trout was also a subject of interest, this fish 

 weighing more than 11 pounds and being one of the largest of the kind 

 ever taken within the limits of the United States. 



Of exotic fishes the most important are several series of European 

 species, obtained by Mr. Goode at Berlin and from his colleagues at the 

 International Fishery Exhibition. 



Eefereuce to these will be found on another page. 



A collection of fishes made some years since at Beyrout, in Syria, by 

 Dr. Kidder, of the Navy, was received last year, in good condition. 

 Professor Poey has continued his contributions of tyi)e species from the 

 Cuban waters. 



A valuable miscellaneous series of fishes was supplied by the Museum 

 of Comparative Zoology of Cambridge, embracing species from both 

 North and South America. 



Mr. Vinal Edwards, of Wood's Holl, an agent of the United States 

 Fish Commission, has also continued his services in the constant watch 

 for rare stragglers. 



In the preparation of the exhibit by the United States at the Inter- 

 national Fishery Exhibit at Berlin in 1880, invitations were sent to many 

 firms for contributions of specimens. These were quite readily complied 

 with. Purchases were made from other parties who declined to contrib- 

 ute, and who consequently lost the opportunity of competition. A 

 special catalogue will be furnished of this series. The collections, for 

 the most part, have been brought back to Washington, to form part of 

 the exhibit of fishery products in the new jSTational Museum. 



Shells. — One of the most im^iortant additions to the collections of the 

 National Museum during the year has resulted from the presentation by 

 Mr. W. G. Biuney of his entire collection of American Land Shells. The 

 history of this division of the moUusca, so far as North America is con- 

 cerned, is closely connected with the name, Mr. Amos Binney, father of 

 William G. Binney, having devoted especial attention to the air-breath- 

 ing land shells, and published a very elaborate and costly work on the 

 subject. The son took up the same ^roup with the material left by Dr. 

 Binney, and has devoted many years of an active and hiborious scien- 



