REPORT OF THE SECRETARY . 25 



recalled that publication of the catalogue was suspended in 1921, 

 owing to the fact that such abnormal conditions in international 

 exchange and publishing costs had been brought about by the war 

 that many of the cooperating nations were unable to pay the conse- 

 quent increased prices of their subscriptions. However, the need of 

 this classified index to the ever-increasing literature of science is 

 greater now than ever before, for no publication or combination of 

 publications has even attempted to fill its place, and it is to be 

 regretted that so much effort is being independently expended to 

 meet special requirements when it is evident that, should these 

 separate undertakings be either merged or at least brought into 

 cooperation all would be benefited and the long- felt needs of special- 

 ists and librarians thus be fully met. 



The International Catalogue is in a position, through its officially 

 recognized bureaus, to prepare index data to all of the scientific 

 publications of the world, this being a feature which no new organi- 

 zation can even hope to duplicate. The local bureaus, being officially 

 recognized and in a position of close contact with both publishers and 

 authors of scientific papers, have unique facilities for providing the 

 data necessary for abstracts and special indexes, and as such data 

 is needed by all agencies supplying notices of scientific publications 

 in whatever form, it is felt that this organization should be the 

 foundation on which to build a cooperative service to meet the needs 

 of all interested in scientific activities. 



NECROLOGY 



JOHN L. BAER 



Mr. John L. Baer, employed by the National Museum for several 

 years past as temporary assistant in the department of anthropology, 

 died in Panama on May 28, 1924. Mr. Baer was sent to represent 

 the Smithsonian Institution on the Marsli Darien Expedition and his 

 death occurred in Panama just before the return of this expedition. 



J. J. DOLAN 



Mr. J. J. Dolan, employed by the National Museum in various 

 capacities for 32 years, died on November 22, 1923. Mr. Dolan 

 entered the service of the Museum as watchman and passed through 

 the various grades until he reached the position of captain of the 

 watch in 1903. This position he held until April 15, 1923, when he 

 was transferred to the office of shipper, which position he held at the 

 time of his death. 



