12 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



any one direction being about $600, and from that down to very small 

 amounts. The results, however, are, in most cases, of a magnitude far 

 out of proportion to the cost. 



A special report will be made by Mr. Goode, Assistant Director of the 

 Museum, upon the collections as such; my duty here being to present 

 the historical part of the subject, and to give the history and places of 

 operation of the more important expeditions. In doing this, as hereto- 

 fore, I take up the subject by regions, commencing with the circumpolar 

 area of North America. 



Labrador and Newfoundland. — In the report for 1882 reference was 

 made to the establishment at Fort Chimo, in Ungava Bay, Northern 

 Labrador, of an observing station by the United States Signal Office, 

 and of the detail of Mr. Lucien M. Turner, for many years in the service 

 of that Bureau. As on previous occasions, Mr. Turner was furnished 

 by the Institution with all the materials necessary to make collections 

 and observations in natural history; this, of course, in addition to what 

 was done for him by the Signal Office in connection with the more im- 

 portant object of his mission, namely, the observation of meteorological 

 and physical phenomena. 



As in many cases heretofore, the Hudson's Bay Company extended 

 a hearty co-operation, in the first place, by authorizing the sending of 

 Mr. Turner to one of its posts, and then by taking him to destination 

 on its vessel and caring for him on his arrival. Embarking at Montreal 

 on a schooner, Mr. Turner was transferred at Bigolet to the steamer, 

 and reached his place of destination in due season. Some collections 

 made by him on the way were received in Washington in the latter 

 part of that year. Since then, advices from Mr. Turner to date of Sep- 

 tember 8, 1883, show that he has been very successful in his work, has 

 made continued and uninterrupted observations in climatology, and 

 has also collected very largely of objects of natural history and ethnol- 

 ogy. These were sent home by him by the Hudson's Bay Company's 

 vessels to London, where they were transshipped in bond and for. 

 warded to New York, coming from London by the Monarch Line of 

 steamers without any charges, in accordance with the courtesy of that 

 company mentioned in another part of this report. 



Twenty-seven boxes and casks have been received from Mr. Turner, 

 containing rich treasure of birds and eggs, mammals, and marine ani- 

 mals, and many interesting specimens of ethnology. 



Mr. Turner will probably return from his post of duty in the summer 

 of 1884, which will give him an additional season of research. 



This portion of Northern Labrador has for many years been a region 

 of great interest to the naturalist and ethnologist ; and Mr. Tamer's 

 experience as a collector and observer will undoubtedly enable us to 

 solve, for the most part, the principal problems in regard to it. 



Mr. Turner has also made arrangements to obtain specimens from 

 Eastern Labrador, especially at Bigolet, Nain, Ovac, &c. 



