32 MUSEUMS. 



The Museums are closed on Sundays and Fridays (except the 

 Fridays of Wliit-, Easter- and Christmas-Weeks) throughout the 

 year, as well as on Christmas Day, and days of Public Fa<t and 

 Thanksgiving'. 



The Museums were represented by the Director ai the British 

 Association, which met at Belfast under the presidency of Professor 

 Dewar, M.A., D.Sc, LL.D., F.R.S., in September, and at the 

 Museums Association, which met at Bradford in July. 



Since 1896, a period of seven years, 49,020 specimens of Natural 

 History and (i,7f)0 specimens of Ethnography, totalling close upon 

 56,000 specimens, have been added to the collection. 



II. — Visitors. 



During the year there has been a considerable increase in the 

 number of visitors to the Museums, compared with that of the 

 previous year, as shown by the averages in the following table: 



1901. 1902. 



(•262 Days) (203 Days) 



Total Visitors .304,942 ... 310,472 



Weekly Average 5,864 ... 5,970 



Daily Average 1,163 ... 1,175 



The attendance of school children under the charge of teacheis has 

 been well maintained, over 1,200 children and 75 teachers having 

 availed themselves of the clause in the Education Code, whereby 

 time devoted to instruction in Museums reckons as school attendance. 

 On several occasions school teacheis have made use of the Museum 

 theatre to give special lessons to the children — specimens being 

 brought from the Museum cases for the purpose. This is found to 

 he of greater educational value than merely having a general visit 

 with no specific object. In some cases lectures and demonstrations 

 have been given by members of the Staff- — arrangements having 

 previously been made with the teachers and masters. 



On the occasion of the annual visit of the Burnley Technical 

 School, on Saturday, February 22nd, when over 100 adult members, 



