REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 13 



to be readily apprelieuded by readers fairly representative of the intel- 

 ligent and edueated class among the constituents of the members of 

 Congress, by whom tliey are chiefly distributed. 



If, as I have already suggested, Congress sees fit to make a small 

 appropriation for the editing as well as the publication of this appen- 

 dix, so as to enable it to include, for instance, information relative to 

 the i)rogress of scientific discovery and its useful application in the 

 United States, such a record would be in keeping with the objects of 

 this Institution, and would maintain for this report the i)opularity and 

 the educational character just referred to, while promoting industrial 

 interests in the country. . 



In this connection I beg to repeat the remark that it would be de- 

 sirable to have the supplementary matter of the report placed under a 

 special clause for the avoidance of all question as to the " necessity 

 and entire relation to the public business" of such information, a ques- 

 tion which has arisen by the construction given by the Public Printer 

 to the act of Congress of August 4, 188G. 



Publications of the National Museum. — These iiublications (already 

 referred to as being issued by Government appropriations) comprise 

 two series: First, the "Proceedings of the National Museum," consist- 

 ing of short essays giving early accounts of recent accessions, or newly 

 ascertained facts in natural history, and promptly issued to secure the 

 earliest diffusion of the information, of which series ten annual volumes 

 have uow been issued*, and secondly, the "Bulletins of the National 

 Museum," consisting of more elaborate memoirs relative to the collec- 

 tions, such as biological monographs, taxonomic lists, etc., of which 

 series thirty-six numbers have been issued. These bulletins vary 

 greatly in size from pamphlets of fifty pages to works of many hun- 

 dred pages. 



Fublications of the Bureau of Ethnology. — The principal publication of 

 this Bureau is the "Annual Eeport." Tbis series consists of large royal 

 octavo volumes, detailing researches relative to the aborigines of North 

 America, handsomely printed and illustrated with numerous cuts and 

 lithographic plates. The fifth Annual Keport has been issued during 

 the year, and tlie series may be referred to, as at the same time credita- 

 ble to the Government and as fitted to engage public attention by mat. 

 ter of an interest beyond what is ordinarily found in any Government 

 document. 



Distribution of Smithsonian Publications. — It is manifestly impossible 

 for the Institution, with its fixed and limited income, to keep pace in its 

 issues and their distribution with the increase of popular interest in 

 scientific productions. The ordinary edition of 1,500 copies of each of 

 the Smithsonian publications which has been produced from the be- 

 ginning, cannot be enlarged without seriously impairing the efficiency 



