SUMMARY OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE YEAR. 



THE MUSEUM STAFF. 



On July 1, 1897, Mr. W. H. Holmes, Dr. Frederick W. True, and Dr. 

 George P. Merrill were appoinied head curators of the newly organized 

 departments of Anthropology, Biology, and Geology, respectively. 

 Mr. W. H. Holmes, who had been connected with the Field Columbian 

 Museum in Chicago, assumed his duties at the National Museum on 

 October 1 . 



Mr. William H. Ashmead, of the Department of Agriculture, was 

 ai)pointed assistant curator of the Division of Insects in the aSTational 

 Museum on July 1, and Mr. Gerrit S. Miller, jr., was given a temporary 

 appointment as assistant curator of the Division of Mammals. 



Dr. W. L. Ralph, of Utica, N^ew York, was made honorary custodian 

 of the Section of Birds' Eggs on November li*. 



Mr. W. T. Swingle and ^Nlr. D. G. Fairchild, both of the Department 

 of Agriculture, were appointed custodians of the Sections of Alg;e and 

 Low er Fungi, respectively, in the Division of Plants. These appoint- 

 ments took effect December 7. 



Dr. Harrison G. Dyar was appointed custodian of the Section of 

 Lepidoptera, Division of Insects, on ISTovember 12. 



On April 30 Dr. J. Walter Fewkes was appointed a collaborator in 

 the Divisioji of Ethnology. 



Dr. F. W. True was appointed Representative of the Smithsonian 

 Institution and National Museum for the Trans-Mississippi and Inter- 

 national Exposition (Omaha), and Mr. M. V. Cox, chief special agent. 



In the absence of Mr. W. V. Cox, Mr. J. L. Willige continued to act 

 as chief clerk. 



A complete list of the members of the scientific and administrative 

 staff is given in Appendix I. 



APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENDITURES. 



The amount ap])ropriated for the National Museum for the current 

 fiscal year was $233,000. The total expenditures under this appropria- 

 tion aggregated •$227,473.54, leaving a gross balance of $r),o2(>.4(). From 

 the approi)riations for the previous fiscal year expenditures to the amount 

 of $10,492.95 were made, leaving a balance (subject to liabilities) of 

 $391.76. 



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