PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES XATIOXAL MUSEUM. 237 



suit the convenience of tlie collector. When several taiilcs make up the 

 complement it is usual to sei)arate tliem by thin wooden partitions. 



Cases made of ordinary tinned sheet-iron are much more generally 

 used tluni the expensive copjier cans, and they will answer well enou.uh 

 if the joints are i>erfectly tight and the top is securely soldered on. 



Oak kegs, holding about 10 gallons each and provided with iron hoops, 

 are capital containers for large fishes, and they will stand the wear and 

 tor of railway travel better than most other receptacles. 



Glass preserving-jars maybe shipped long distances with comparative 

 safety, but they must be tested, by inverting them, to insure tightness ; 

 the toj) of the jar and the rubber band should be wii)ed dr\'; wrap the 

 jars iii strong paper and pack them in some material that will prevent 

 breakage. 



When corked bottles are used, tie a piece of bladder securely over the 

 cork. Where seals and sea lions occur, the throat, as pre])ared bj- the 

 Aleuts for example, will be found an excellent covering*. It is necessary 

 to wet the membrane to make it pliable. Whenever jars, bottles, or 

 anj' other small containers are filled with fish which are not provided with 

 tin tags, write plainly with a lead-pencil on heavy manila or writing- 

 paper the name of the place where the fish, were taken, the date of cap- 

 ture, and the name of the collector. Put a label of this kind inside of 

 each bottle; it will remain legible for years. 



G. Each specimen should be provided with a numbered tin tag, which 

 is to be fastened, whenever possible, by means of a string passed through 

 the right gill-oi^ening and out at the mouth. When the string mnst be 

 tied around the body or tail of the fish it should be fixed securely and 

 yet with out injuring any of the fins. A catalogue is to be kept by the col- 

 lector, in which the numbers corresponding with those on the tags must 

 be entered, with notes as to place, time, and mode of capture, and other 

 particulars which will be more fullj' mentioned further on. Wrap each 

 fish separately in common coarse muslin (the coarser the better), and 

 tie the ends securely. Do not tie the string so tightlj' around the body 

 of the fish as to make furrows and wrinkles in the skin. If tin tags are 

 not at hand, a label written firmly on stout paper with a lead-pencil 

 should be wrapped inside of the covering of the fish. It is necessary 

 always to fill the receptacle in which specimens are packed — a bottle or 

 jar may be either filled with alcohol or the specimens may be wrapped 

 in muslin. It is not a good ])lan to put tow, excelsior, or cotton-wool 

 on top of fish, as it presses them close together and prevents the free 

 circulation of alcohol between them. For long journeys it is desirable to 

 secure better iirotection than the muslin wrapping alone affords. This 

 may be gained by placing beds of excelsior or thin wood shavings be- 

 tween the layers of fish and at the bottom and top of the case. 



A plainly-written card i)la(;ed at the top of the box, so as to be seen 

 when the lid is removed, telling its contents and by whom it was sent, 

 will save much trouble when the collection is to be unpacked. 



