REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 81 



seals in the Musouiu collection were studied by Dr. C. Hart Merriaui, 

 II. S. Fur-seal Commissiouer, in eounectiou with the Bering Sea contro- 

 versy. 



The Museum collection of plants in alcohol was temporarily trans- 

 ferred to the Department of Agricultnre for the use of Mr. Tiieodor 

 llohn in connection with his studies on the life histories and <;rowth 

 of North American plants. The si>ouges belonging to the Museum 

 collection of the ftunily Hexactinellid;e, collected in the Pacific Octean 

 by the steamer Albatross, have been sent to Prof. F. E. Schulz, of 

 Berlin, who is preparing a revision of the group. He will submit 

 a paper, based on an examination of these specimens, for publication in 

 the Proceedings of the Museum. Arrangements have also been made 

 with Dr. Axel Goes, of Sweden, to study the Foraminifera collected in 

 the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the Pacific Ocean, and with 

 Mr. John Murray, of Edinburgh, to study certain deep-sea deposits 

 obtained by the Fish Commission steamers. 



THE I'SE OF THE OOVERNMENT 8CTENTIFIC COLLECTIONS 

 BY STUDENTS. 



Congress, by a joint resolution approved April lli, 1892, has formally 

 thrown open all the literary and scientific collections in Washington for 

 the use of students, with the definitely avowed purpose of encouraging 

 the establishment and endowment of institutions of learning at the 

 National Cajntal. 



This most important and liberal action is in accord with the tendency 

 toward the establishment in Washington of a great national university, 

 or of a group of institutions practically national in their scope, for the 

 advancement of higher learning. 



The new law does not in any respect modity the attitude of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution and National Museum, for from the very beginning 

 students and investigators have been welcomed and given every facility 

 for their work, and within the past fifty years thousands have availed 

 themselves of these privileges. 



The action is significant, however, and especially welcome. l)ecanse 

 it shows that the legislative branch of the Government is disposed to 

 encourage in every way the use of the collections in Washington, already 

 vast in extent, for the one purpose for which, above all others, they are 

 adapted. 



The resolution is printed below in lull: 



Whereas large coUectious illustrative of the various arts aud scieuces and faeili- 

 tatiiij; literary and scientific research have been accuuinlated by the action of Con- 

 gress through a series of years at the National Capital; aud 



Whereas it was the original purpose of the Government thereby to promote research 

 and the ditVusion of knowledge, and is now tlie settled policy aud ]ireseut i)ractice 

 of those charged with the care of these collections sjiecially to encourage students 

 who devote their time to the investigation and study of any branch ol kuowk'dge 

 by allowing to them all proper use thereof; aud 

 H.Mis. 184, pt. L' 



