REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 23 



Tn the Smithsonian Keport for 1854 appeared for the Orst time an "ap- 

 pendix," containing- an acconnt of American explorations for the years 

 1853 and 1854, by Prof. S. F. Baird ; a full report of lectures delivered 

 before the Institution by Marsh, Brainard, Loomis, Channing, Reed, and 

 Russell ; extracts from the scientific correspondence of tlie Institution ; 

 and miscellaneous papers relating to American archiBology, geology, 

 etc. This general ap])endix to the Annual Report of the Regents has 

 been regularly continued to the present time (for more than the third of 

 a century), and has served to bring the Smithsonian Report into great 

 popular demand. 



In the Report for 1880 (alter the abandonment by the publishing 

 house — the Harpers, of New York — of an "Annual Record of Science 

 and Industry"), a systematic " Record of Scientific Progress," compiled 

 by various specialists, vras made the principal feature of the general ap- 

 pendix by my predecessor. This annual scientific summary, however 

 acceptable and however conformable to the plans originally laid down, 

 has labored under two very serious difficulties : First, that from the vex- 

 atious delaj' of publication the record of recent science lost much of its 

 interest and value; and, secondly, that the expense of its preparation 

 (averaging $2,500 per annum) has become more and more a tax upon 

 the Smithsonian income that could be but illy afforded. To this may 

 be added a practical difficulty in getting all the different summaries 

 completed at the time of making up the general appendix, so that au 

 omission of one or more branches occurred in every report. Under these 

 circumstances, it has become a serious question as to the manner in 

 which this appendix to the Report is to be maintained, if maintained 

 at all. 



An additional complication of the question may be referred to, arising 

 out of the construction given to au act of Congress approved August 

 4, 1886, and siuce continued from year to year, which prescribes that 

 heads of departments " before transmitting their annual reports to Con- 

 gress, the printing of which is chargeable to this appropriation, shall 

 cause the same to be carefully examined, and shall exclude therefrom 

 all matter including engravings, maps, drawings, and illustrations, ex- 

 cept such as they shall certify in their letters transmitting such reports 

 to be necessary, and to relate entirely to the transaction of public busi- 

 ness." (Statutes, Forty-ninth Congress, first session; chapter 902, 

 page 255.) 



This restriction has been held by the Public Printer to apply equally 

 to the reports of the Regents to Congress, which are printed under the 

 provisions of this appropriation. This consideration seems to furnish 

 an additional reason for having the supplementary matter of the report 

 placed under a special clause of authorization, for the avoidance of all 

 question as to the "necessity and entire relation to the public business" 

 of such general scientific information. 



The second series to be mentioned uniler this head consists of the 



