REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 83 



Maiinscript was prepared for a pamphlet giving a general descrip- 

 tion of the exhibits sent by the Museum to the Tennessee Centennial 

 Exposition. 



A statement was prepared of the most important Government explo- 

 rations which resulted in tlio acquisition of natural history or ethno- 

 logical material by the Institution or the National Museum. 



A beginning was made toward the compilation of statistics showing 

 the size, value of collections, etc., of the principal museums in this 

 country and abroad. 



REGISTRATION AND DISTRIBUTION. 



During the year 42,583 packages of all kinds were received. Of this 

 number, Gil packages contained specimens for the Museum collections, 

 1,288 contained supplies of various kinds for the offices and shops, and 

 about 28,000 consisted of publications. There was an increase of more 

 than 17,000 in the total number of incoming packages, about 60 per 

 cent of tliis increase being due to the unusually large number of publi- 

 cations received. The total number of boxes and packages sent out 

 was 3,332, of which 367 consisted of material shipped to the Tennessee 

 Centennial Exposition. 



The eihtries on the incoming transportation record numbered 3,242, 

 and on the outgoing transportation record 1,613. 



There M'cre 1,407 regular accessions, while 710 lots of material were 

 received for identification. 



One hundred and ninety packages Mere placed in storage and 761 

 were withdrawn. 



The number of specimens distributed during the year was 26,712, of 

 which number 3,342 consisted of material lent for study. j\Iore than 

 12,000 herbarium specimens were sent out in exchange, and many 

 sets of marine invertebrates and geological specimens were distributed 

 to educational institutions. 



A detailed statement, arranged geographically, showing to what 

 institutions and individuals specimens have been sent during the year, 

 is i)rinted as Appendix IX. The following statement, arranged geo- 

 graphically, shows the number of lots of si)ecimens sent out: 



United States : | United States — Continued. 



Alabama 1 I Kentucky 1 



Arizona 1 Maine 1 



Califi)rnia II Maryland 4 



Colorado 2 Massachusetts 31 



Connecticut ti ]\Iicliigan 2 



Delaware 3 Minnesota 1 



District of Coluniliia 15 Missouri 8 



Florida 2 Nebraska 3 



Geor<;ia 2, New Jersey 6 



Illinois 12 New York 33 



Indiana 5 North Carolina 1 



Iowa 11 Ohio 3 



