REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



259 



Collecting outfits supplied. 



Collecting outfits for obtaining marine invertebrates were furnished 

 during the year to the following parties: Ensigns H. G. Dresel and A. 

 A. Ackerman, 0\ S. N., acting as naturalists on the U. S. S. " Yantic," of 

 the Greely Belief Expedition ; Lieut. Commander E. D. Evans, U. S. N., 

 in charge of the sixth light-house district, covering the coasts of Virginia 

 and Maryland; Dr. N". M. Ferebee, U. S. K, of the U. S. S. "Trenton," 

 now en route for Corea via Europe and the Suez Canal ; Dr. W. G. G. 

 Willson, U. S. N., of the TJ. S. S. "Pinta," now en route for Alaska, from 

 Norfolk, Va., via the Straits of Magellan; Mr. W. A. Stearns, of Am- 

 herst, Mass., for the purpose of collecting on the coast of Southern 

 Labrador; Capt. Alexander Gray, of the S. S. " Labrador," who, in July 

 last, carried supplies to Mr. L. M. Turner, signal observer at Ungava 

 Bay, Northern Labrador. The smallest of these outfits consisted of a 

 small dredge and a liberal supply of bottles and alcohol. The most of 

 them also included one or more towiug-nets, and that of the "Yantic" 

 was quite complete, having a 6-foot beam trawl and a Baird seine in 

 addition to several dredges, towing nets, &c. Collections have already 

 been received from the " Yantic" party and from Lieutenant-Commander 

 Evans. 



Records. 



The number of parcels catalogued during the year is shown in the 

 following table, from which, however, no idea can be farmed of the num- 

 ber of species or specimens included, as, while each parcel (bottle, vial, 

 or box) is devoted to only a single species, it may contain a greater or 

 less number of specimens, and the same species may be represented by 

 several lots from as many different localities. 



Table of entries made in the record books. 



General Remarks. 



The Curator is unable at present to make any positive statement re- 

 garding the number of specimens or determined species belonging to 

 this department. The number of both is very great and will be calcu- 



