52 REPORT OF NATIONAL MEUSEUM, 1884. 



issippi basin, aiitl the Pacific being shown separately. Seven cases are 

 devoted to an extensive collection of minerals, while a large space is 

 assigned to metallurgy and economic geology, including a collection 

 illustrating the apparatus and methods of coal mining, and samples of 

 the various grades of commercial coal. 



The entire collection, occupying seventeen cars, was sent to New Or- 

 leans, where it is now being installed in as systematic a manner as 

 possible, the educational idea being prominent in the arrangement. 



During the progress of the several expositions many of the curators 

 were in attendance for a short time, in order to give their personal at- 

 tention to the installment of their exhibits. The Assistant Director left 

 here on December 6, to be present at the opening of the New Orleans 

 Exposition, and was thus enabled to superintend in person the installa- 

 tion of the Smithsonian exhibit so far as it was possible to complete 

 this by the opening day. Mr. Henry Horan, superintendent of the 

 National Museum, was detailed to attend to the three expositions at 

 various times between August 13 and November 30, in order to assist 

 in the arrangement of the cases. He also attended to the shipment 

 from Cincinnati to New Orleans of the cases intended for display at the 

 latter place. 



INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES EXHIBITION OF LONDON. 



The International Fisheries Exhibition of 1883 closed on October 31, 

 and Mr. Earll, with his assistants, who were left in charge after my re- 

 turn, reached Washington soon after the beginning of the year, the 

 last shipment of collections from London having already been received. 

 The reception, unpacking, and installation of the collections which 

 were prepared to be sent to London, together with the new material 

 obtained from the collections of other countries at this exhibition, oc- 

 cupied a great deal of time in the early part of the year. As has already 

 been mentioned, this work was completed in a preliminary manner in 

 May, during which month the fisheries gallery was opened to the pub- 

 lic. At the same time the gallery devoted to naval architecture — a 

 department which also received great impetus in connection with the 

 London Exhibition — was also thrown open. The fisheries collection 

 will undoubtedly for some years stand as the first completed and most 

 thoroughly arranged collection in the department of arts and indus- 

 tries. During the year a full catalogue of the collection, as shown in 

 London, has been printed, which, although far from corresponding to 

 the standard proi)Osed for the Museum hand-books, will serve as a 

 starting point for this series. This catalogue may be considered as a 

 report upon the participation by the United States in the London Fish- 

 eries Exhibition. The report upon the general exhibition is now, as the 

 law requires, in course of preparation, and will be presented to the Sec- 

 retary of State during the coming year. 



