82 REPOKT OF NATIOISTAL MUSEUM, 1902. 



It was hoped that this catalogue might be completed in season to hand 

 in with m}^ annual report. 



In accordance with the plan originated several years ago, a small 

 series of rocks, illustrating the various stages of rock decomposition 

 and formation of soils, was prepared for distribution to schools and 

 colleges. Ninety-one sets were prepared, (comprising eleven speci- 

 mens each. These were accompanied by a descriptive pamphlet of 

 three pages, giving localities and analyses. 



As the years go on, and particularly as the halls grow more and 

 more crowded, there accumulates a large amount of duplicate and 

 less desirable material, which has been stored away in boxes or 

 wherever available space can be found. This is especiall}^ the case 

 with the Division of Geology proper, where the character of the 

 material is such that it often comes to the Museum in bulk to be 

 trimmed up and prepared for exhibition on the ground. During the 

 past year a systematic effort has been made to sort this and dispose, to 

 the advantage of the Museum, of such as was not actuall}' needed for 

 study or exhibition. Nearly 2,500 specimens and upward of 4,500 

 pounds of rocks and ores in the rough have been thus disposed of. the 

 returns coming in the form of meteorites and minerals in which a 

 maximum value is represented 1)}' a minimum amount of material. 



The regular routine of the Museum has been somewhat disturbed 

 this year, as in years past, by exposition work. Messrs. Xowhall, 

 Stewart, and Bassler were at Buffalo for a period of eighteen da3^s in 

 November, engaged in packing the exhibit of the department, which 

 had been there throughout the exposition, and in January following 

 Messrs. Schuchert and Stewart went to Charleston to install the 

 exhibit there. In May, Messrs. Stewart and Newhall and the Head 

 Curator visited Charleston for the purpose of packing the collections 

 for their return to Washington, I may note here that the collections 

 forming the exhibit at Buffalo and Charleston have been all returned, 

 those from Charleston arriving too late to receive attention during the 

 present fiscal year. Mr, Bassler Avas engaged during July, August, 

 and a part of September, at Newport, Kentucky, in packing the 

 Ulrich collection, noted elsewhere, 



PEESENT CONDITION OF THE COLLECTIONS. 



Tl)e condition of most of the collections of the Department is fairly 

 satisfacctot-y. We are, of course, badly hampered for space, and a 

 large amount of material is needed to render many of the collections 

 complete or systematic. The final installation, in the Section of 

 Invertebrate Paleontology, of the Harris collection, received in 1898, 

 is practically' accomplished. The exhibition portion now comprises 

 some 3,400 specimens mounted on 365 tiles and blocks and occupving 

 50 running feet of the gallery rail case in the southeast court. 



