KKl'ORT OF THE SIX'KKTAKY. 



21 



Tills iiiisolicited iuciTiise of the ('ollcctioii.s should pri-jxTly be, a 

 souicc of <;i;ititi('atioii rather than of einbarrassmeut. Growth is osseii 

 tial to the welfare of a museum, and to check it is sur*^ to produce un- 

 fortunate results. It seems undesirable to say to the friends of the 

 Museum that their valuable donations can not be received. Such a 

 course would alienate their sympatliy, and the Museum would lose the 

 advantage of their good oftici's. Under existing' conditions, however, 

 the necessity of resorting to so uiulesirable a measure is perilously 

 near. The increase of tlu^ ctdlections from certain other simrces can 

 not even thus be checked. 



Large collections are made every year by the Department of Agri- 

 culture, the (leological Survey, the Fish Commission, and other De- 

 partments and Bureaus of the Government, either as an essential part 

 of their work or incidentally. By provision of law the Museum is made 

 the custodian of these collections, and it can not, therefore, do other- 

 wise than to receive and preserve them. 



Many valuable objects are exposed to dust and vandalism from the 

 lack of sufficient money to procure the necessary cases for their protec- 

 tion. Series of objects, such as the great Lacoe collection of fossil 

 plants, recently acquired, are frequently ottered with the condition that 

 suitable cases be provided. For the safe-kecqdng of tln^ objects already 

 in the possession of the IMuseum and foi- the reception of those ottered, 

 nunuu'ous storage and exhibition cases are a lu'cessity. 



The number of si)ecimens of all kinds in tin? Museum at the close of 

 the year, as shown by the following table, nearly eipialled three and a 

 quarter millions. The increase for the year was about 2()0,0()0 speci- 

 mens, or nearly dcuible that of bSlM. 



Tahle nhowiii'i lln aninnil hicrcane in the depart »\ en Ik of the, NatiovdJ Mii>i(uin. 



Name of departmeut. 



4, 000 

 1,244 



(I) 1885-'86. ' 1886-'S7. 



Art and industries: 



Materia medica 



Foods 



Textiles 



Fisheries 



Animal products 



Graphic arts 



Transportation and engiiu'c-ring 



Naval architecture 



Historical relirs 



Coins, medals, paper money, etc 



Musical instniments 



Modern potterj-, porcelain, and bronzes. 



Paints and dyes 



" The Catlin Gallery ' 



Physical apparatus 



Oils and gums ' 



Chemical products ' 



Domestic animals 



' Xo census of the collection laken. 



4,442 



1, 580 



2, 000 

 5, 000 

 1, 000 



600 



4, 850 

 822 

 ;{, OOH 

 9, 870 

 2, 702 



1,002 



1,005 



400 



2, 278 



77 



500 



250 



197 



C59 



5, 51G 



877 



:!, 144 



10,078 

 2, 822 



13, (i:u 



417 

 2, 238 

 100 

 500 

 251 

 19vS 

 6C1 



