4 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1891. 



progress very extensive collections of uatural history and other objects 

 were made. lmi)ortant collections from foreign countries were made 

 by the Wilkes Exploring Expedition, Perry's Japan Expedition, and nu- 

 merous other naval expeditions, while the naturalists attached to the 

 Pacific Kailroad Survey, the Mexican Boundary Survey, and other sur- 

 veys under the Engineer Corps of the Army, brought together great 

 collections of objects illustrating the natural resources and ethnology 

 of the United States. 



At a somewhat later period, when the geological surveys of the Terri- 

 tories were organized, large additional collections were formed. 



A new source of increment was opened by the investigation of the 

 Fish Commission into the aquatic fauna of the continent. 



At the close of the Centennial Exhibition in 1876 the exhibits of the 

 United States Government, as well as those of numerous foreign gov- 

 ernments and of private exhibitors, came into the possession of the Na- 

 tional Museum. 



Since 1876, though the growth of the Museum has been much more 

 rapid, no single source of increment has predominated. The complexity 

 of the collections, however, has been greatly increased. The collections 

 are now more than sixteen times as large as in 1882, which was the 

 first year of systematic work in the new Museum building. 



Among the principal sources of miscellaneous increase since the Cen- 

 tennial Exhibition may be mentioned the Fisheries Exhibitions of Ber- 

 lin and London, the New Orleans Cotton Centennial Exposition in 1884 

 and 1885, and the Cincinnati Exposition in 1887. A large amount of 

 material has also been derived through exchange with museums and 

 individuals at home and abroad. 



With the acquisitions from the Centennial Exhibition a new epoch 

 began in the history of the Museum. The storage rooms and exhibition 

 halls of the Smithsonian building were overflowing with the accumula- 

 tions of thirty years, and the small number of persons employed in car- 

 ing for them were overburdened and unable to keep abreast with the 

 necessary work. Furthermore, as already stated, the complexity of the 

 collections had very largely increased, necessitating a new and broader 

 classification. The growth of the country in wealth and culture led to 

 the establishment of numy local museums, and the educational influen(;es 

 flowing from these and from the Centennial Exhibition caused a demand 

 for better systems of installation and explanation of the collections. 



On account of these circumstances an appeal was made to Congress 

 for a new l)uilding lor the National Museum and for increased appro- 

 priations for its maintenance. A new building was provided for in 

 1879 and a complete reor "anization of the Museum was undertaken 

 two years later. 



By law the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution is ex officio director 

 of the Miiseum, He is empowered to employ suitable assistants for 



