REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 



57 



The number of accessions during each year since 1<SS1 is shown in 

 the following table : 



During the year, 25,405 packages were received by the Registrar. Of 

 this number, 690 contained S])ecimens for the Museum collections (an 

 increase of 79 over the record for the previous year), 1,724 contained 

 supplies of various kinds for use in the offices and shops of the Museum, 

 and 11,522 consisted of publications. Three thousand and seventy- 

 three packages were sent out. 



The entries on the outgoing transportation record numbered 1,482 

 and on the incoming transportation record 3,137. 



Seven carloads of material were shipped to the Trans- Mississippi and 

 International Exposition at Omaha. 



Two hundred and twenty-one packages were placed in storage and 

 57 were withdrawn. 



DISTRIBUTION AND EXCHANaES. 



Thirty-two thousand three hundred and sixty-three specimens were 

 sent out as gifts or in exchange, and 7,4G1 specimens were lent for 

 study during the year. A number of sets of marine invertebrates 

 have been prepared with a special view to supplying the needs of 

 schools, and these have been distributed to the number of about 17,000 

 specimens. Many collections of rocks and ores and casts of prehistoric 

 implements were also presented to educational establishments. 



A complete list of the distributions of the year is printed in Appen- 

 dix III. 



