20 REPOKT OF THE SECRETARY. 



the Smithsonian Institution. Since then all the material and problems 

 connected with meteorology have been transferred to the Signal Office, 

 which on its part has not failed to extend its aid to the Institution in 

 connection with branches of science other than those constituting more 

 particularly its functions. Many important results, both in zoology and 

 ethnologj^, accomplished by the Institution in relation to Northern, North- 

 eastern, and even Arctic America, have been attained in connection 

 with General Myer, and afterwards his successor, General William B. 

 Hazen. In establishing meteorological stations in different parts of 

 Arctic America, the Smithsonian Institution has been invited to nomi- 

 nate observers, who, while competent to the duties of the Signal Office, 

 may, if convenient, be able to make collections of objects in natural 

 history and ethnology. In pursuance of this co-operation, a number of 

 years ago Mr. Lucien M. Turner was selected and stationed first at 

 Saint Michael's and then along the chain of the Aleutian Islands. Mr. 

 Nelson succeeded him at Saint Michael's, and continued his work. 



Under instruction of the Treasury Department, through Mr. E. W. 

 Clarke, chief of the Bureau of the Ee venue Marine, Captain Hooper, in 

 command of the revenue cutter " Corwin," visited the arctic coast, both 

 in the interest of the revenue service and for the purpose of obtain- 

 ing information in regard to the " Jeannette." He was instructed to 

 take Mr. Nelson to Saint Michael's, and give him an opportunity of 

 visiting Saint Lawrence Island, the special object being to allow the 

 collecting of the remains of the Esquimaux who to the number of sev- 

 eral hundred perished there by starvation. Mr. Nelson was accord- 

 ingly taken on board, and obtained on the island, in addition to a very 

 fine collection of implements, utensils, dresses, &c., a large number of 

 crania, filling an important deficiency in the Museum. The vessel then 

 proceeded to various points on the Siberian coast, and subsequently 

 made the first known landing on Wrangell Land, that mysterious re- 

 gion which had been the special object of investigation on the part of 

 the " Jeannette." 



On the island a magnificent polar bear, killed by the party, was 

 brought back by Mr. Nelson, and is now duly exhibited in the National 

 Museum. 



The thanks of the Institution are due not only to the Treasury De- 

 partment but also to Captain Hooper for his kind co-operation in Mr. 

 Kelson's work, by rendering all possible facihties. 



Mr. Lucien M. Turner, who, under orders from the signal service 

 of the United States Army, to make meteorological observations in 

 Alaska, arrived at Unalashka Island May 10, 1874, succeeded dur- 

 ing the five days he remained there in collecting several species of 

 birds. He reached Saint Michael's, Alaska, May 25, commencing his 

 meteorological work June 26, and during the leisure permitted by close 

 attention to his official duties, continued his collections of natural his- 

 tory specimens from the locaUty, until July 1), 1877, when at his request 



