8 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



Mr. Lucien M. Turner has been engaged in preparing his report upon 

 the natural history and meteorology of the region about Fort Chimo, 

 Ungava Bay, Northern Labrador, where he spent several years, as stated 

 in the last report. As he completes his investigations of the various 

 collections, they are turned over to the National Museum, and represent 

 very important additions to its treasures. The report will be made to 

 the U. S. signal officer. 



Important material, especially in geology and palaeontology, has been 

 received from the Geological Survey of Canada. 



Alaslca. — There has been an unusual amount of activity in the inves- 

 tigation of the geography and natural history of Alaska, especially the 

 northern portion. Lieut. George M. Stoney, of the United States 

 Navy, with a force of naval officers and men, has been engaged in con- 

 tinuing the explorations made by him in 1884, and already reported 

 upon. The revenue cutter Corwin also again visited the Arctic Ocean, 

 and parties were sent up the Kowak and other rivers emptying into 

 Kotzebue Sound. Mr. Charles H. Townsend, an accomplished collector, 

 accompanied the vessel and made many interesting gatherings in nat- 

 ural history. Mr. Henry D. Woolfe, agent of the Pacific Steam Whal- 

 ing Company, stationed at Cape Lisburne, in the Arctic Ocean, has also 

 collected numerous specimens, including shells and marine invertebrates. 

 A few of these have been sent in, but the greater part of the collection 

 has yet to come. 



Mr. John J. McLean, signal observer at Sitka, has continued his 

 transmissions of rare and interesting archaeological material, while Mr. 

 W. J. Fisher, at Kodiak, has forwarded additional series of ethnological 

 objects, birds, &c. Mr. Johnson, Signal Service observer at Nushagak, 

 has transmitted some desirable specimens of birds. 



Washington Territory and the west coast of the United States. — Mr. 

 James G. Swan, of Port Townsend, has furnished a number of interest- 

 ing ethnological specimens, obtained from the Indians of Puget Sound, 

 and Ensign A. P. Niblack, U. S. N., attached to the United States Coast 

 Survey steamer Carlile P. Patterson, while jiroceeding in that vessel from 

 San Francisco around Cape Horn and thence to Alaska, gathered many 

 notes upon the natural history and ethnology of the country, and trans- 

 mitted them to the Smithsonian Institution, with quite a number of 

 specimens. 



JEJast coast of the United States and Oulf of Mexico.— Dnrmg the&cstholf 

 of the year 1885 the steamer Albatross, of the United States Fish Com- 

 mission, continued its important exploration into the fisheries and the 

 natural history and physical condition of the waters adjacent to the 

 coast of the United States. The winter and early spring were spent in 

 the Gulf of Mexico in search of new fishing grounds for valuable fish, 

 and in Juno was commenced a similar work on the banks of Newfound- 



