REPORT OP ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 69 



M. J;u'([iies de ^Slorgan, of tho Gi/th Muspuiu, Cairo, Egypt, sent to the U. S. 

 National Museum 252 specimens of neolithic Hint implements collected hy himself. 



Dr. Wilson was appointed by the Secretary of State to act as com- 

 missioner on behalf of the United States to the International Exposi- 

 tion, which opened at Brussels in April, 1897. 



About 200 specimens were lent to Mr. J. I). McGiiire for use in con- 

 nection with tlie preparation of his paper on prehistoric pijies. 



Several persons have made special studies of the collections in the 

 department, as will be seen by reference to the chapter on the work of 

 students and investigators. 



The titles of those papers published by the curator during" the year 

 which are based upon Museum material are given in the Dibliography 

 (Appendix IV). 



There has been no material change in the plans of the curator for the 

 future development of the department. These were set forth (piite fully 

 in the last Annual Eeport. 



There were 13,840 specimens received during the year. The total 

 number of specimens in the department was given in the last Report 

 as 209,340. The number of specimens transferred to this department 

 from the former section of American aboriginal pottery is estimated at 

 20,000, and 15,981 casts, made for distribution to scientific and educa- 

 tional institutions, are now accounted for for the first time. This gives 

 a total of 250,1(17. Deducting the number of original implements and 

 casts distributed during i)receding years and not accounted for, and 

 also those sent out during the current year (in all 8,911), the number of 

 specimens in the department is shown to be 250,250. 



The last catalogue entry in June, 1896, was 173001, and in June, 

 1897, 195271, giving a total of 22,210 entries. The number of speci- 

 mens received for examination and report during the year was 174. 



DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND INDUSTRIES. 



Technological collections. — Mr. J. E. Watkins, curator, has submitted 

 separate reports upon the several series embraced in the technological 

 collections. These collections are gradually being brought into better 

 condition; although, since the appointment of Mr. Watkins as chief 

 of the division of buildings and superintendence, it has not been pos- 

 sible for him to devote much time to matters i^ertaining to the techno- 

 logical exhibits. Such work as has been performed has been done 

 with a special view to bringing together and preserving those objects 

 which are representative of epoch-making inventions. 



Mr. George C. Maynard has rendered important service as custodian 

 of the electrical collections. The prospects for building up an interest- 

 ing series of historic electrical apparatus are very gratifying, and sub- 

 stantial progress has already been made. 



