REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 87 



During the year OGO specimens were distributed, principally in 

 exchange. Many persons who come into possession of stone imple- 

 ments and are anxious to learn something of their siguificance send 

 them to the Museum for examination. In 1805 there were received for 

 this purpose ;>8 lots, aggregating 552 specimens. Eeports are invaria- 

 bly transmitted to the senders as soon as the specimens have been 

 examined, and in most instances the latter are returned. 



The last catalogue entry in June, 1894, was 109510, and in June, 

 1895, 172315. 



DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND INDUSTRIES. 



At the time when the department of ethnology was established in 

 the National Museum, there were large accumulations of ethnological 

 objects from various sources which could not be regarded as purely 

 ethnic material, not being specially connected with or illustrative of 

 special tribes of men, but which rather formed parts of series of arts 

 scattered over the entire earth. Such arts might be regarded as folk 

 inventions and as illustrating a part of the great scheme of human 

 invention. It was necessary to tind a place for these objects, and sev- 

 eral special groups, among which they might be properly distributed, 

 were established. These formed what has since been known as the 

 " Department of Arts and Industries." Thus the sections of foods, tex- 

 tiles, fisheries, naval architecture, travel and transportation, the medi- 

 cines of all peo])les, music, and several others, came into existence. In 

 them the objects are arranged under different classes of types, accord- 

 ing to their structure, and in each class the objects are further arranged 

 according to a system of historic development and elaboration. The 

 Museum records now show that 14 sections have been organized, 

 although some of these are still without custodians. These are: 

 (1) Naval architecture; (2) transportation; (3) textiles; (4) foods and 

 chemicals; (5) fisheries; (<>) animal products; (7) graphic arts; (8) histor- 

 ical collections, coins, and medals; (9) physical apparatus; (10) musical 

 instruments; (11) x>orcelains and bronzes; (12) materia medica; (13) 

 forestry; (14) oriental antiquities and religious ceremoinal objects. 



Technological collections. — The first four sections in the enumeration 

 above have been placed in charge of Mr. J. Elfreth Watkins, who, on 

 February 1, 1895, was designated " Curator of the technological collec- 

 tions." To these, other sections will be added as occasion and oppor- 

 tunity may arise. The development of these collections will be slow, 

 inasmuch as objects which were used by man in the foundation of many 

 of the arts are very difiScult to obtain. Again, the bulkiuess of 

 many objects which would be most desirable, would render them, even if 

 obtainable, too cumbersome for installation, nor could space be assigned 

 for the installation of such relics, owing to the already crowded condi- 

 tion of the Museum halls. In cases where large objects can be repre- 

 sented by models, the curator suggests the construction of small models, 

 varying from one-fifth to one- tenth natural size where it is desired to 



