REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 15) 
on May 30, 1899, on a special steamer, and was gone about two months, 
visiting the Aleutian Islands, the Pribilof Islands, and the Eskimo 
settlements on the Asiatic and American shores. The journey was 
extended through Bering Strait and return, and covered 9,000 miles. 
Large and important collections were made of mammals, birds, 
insects, marine animals, fossil shells, and fossil plants. Studies were 
also made of the great glaciers and of the geological formations of 
the regions visited. The contents of the volumes received by the 
Institution are enumerated by the editor in the appendix to the 
present report. The series consists of 11 volumes, printed and illus- 
trated in the best manner. These books, now known as the Harri- 
man Alaska Series of the Smithsonian Institution, have been dis-— 
tributed, under special Smithsonian title pages, to a selected list of 
libraries throughout the world, the few copies of certain volumes 
remaining after such a distribution being held for sale in accordance 
with the terms of the agreement. 
Museum publications——The National Museum published its an- 
nual report, two volumes of proceedings and several bulletins, cover- 
ing the usual wide range of subjects, but chiefly pertaining to zoology 
and botany. 
Ethnological publications—The Bureau of American Ethnolog 
issued several bulletins, including part 2 of the Handbook of Ameri- 
can Indians North of Mexico; part 1 of the Handbook of American 
Indian Languages; Antiquities of Central and Southeastern Mis- 
sissippi Valley; Antiquities of the Mesa Verde National Park, and 
bulletins on other ethnological subjects. © 
Publications of historical and patriotic societies—Annual reports 
of the American Historical Association and the National Society of 
the Daughters of the American Revolution were as usual commu- 
nicated to Congress in accordance with law. 
Advisory committee on printing and publication—The committee 
on printing and publication has continued to examine manuscripts 
proposed for publication by the branches of the Institution, and has 
considered various questions concerning public printing and binding. 
Twenty-four meetings of the committee were held during the year 
and 115 manuscripts were passed upon. The personnel of the com- 
mittee is as follows: Dr. Frederick W. True, Assistant Secretary 
of the Smithsonian Institution, chairman; Mr. C. G. Abbot, Director 
of the Astrophysical Observatory; Mr. W. I. Adams, disbursing 
officer of the Smithsonian Institution; Dr. Frank Baker, superin- 
tendent of the National Zoological Park; Mr. A. Howard Clark, 
editor of the Smithsonian Institution; Mr. F. W. Hodge, ethnologist 
in charge of the Bureau of American Ethnology; Dr. George P. 
Merrill, head curator of geology, United States National Museum; 
