REPORT OF ARISISTANT SECRETARY. 121 



of lieveiiue Marine, instructed its captaijis in Alaska to assist Mr. 

 Jaines G. Swan in liis ex})lorations for the Institution, by receiving him 

 and liis collections on board, whenever such action did not interfere 

 with the regular service of the vessels. The commander of the revenue 

 steamer Key West was instructed to assist Mr. Hemphill in carrying ou 

 his explorations of the Florida Keys in behalf of the Museum. In 

 1885 the Corn-in again visited the Arctic Ocean, and parties were sent 

 up the Kowak and other rivers emjjtying into Kotzebue Sound. Mr. 

 Charles H. Townsend, an experienced collector, accompanied the ves- 

 sel, and collected many interesting objects in ethnology and natural 

 history. During the year 1887 the assistance of the Revenue Marine 

 Division was asked in procuring for the Museum specimens of " bi- 

 darkas " or Eskimo kyaks. Capt. Healy was requested to obtain speci- 

 mens on his next visit to Alaska, and upon his return six of these 

 objects were placed in the hands of the Alaska 0(nnmercial Company 

 for shipment to Washington. 



A most important research into the natural history of the Atlantic 

 coast of the Fnited States has been carried on by the Institution with 

 the cooperation of Mr. S. I. Kimball, Superintendent of the Life-Saviug 

 Service, In the early part of 1883, circulars from the Institution were 

 distributed by him, asking the keepers of life-saving stations for 

 telegraphic nijtification of the occurrence or capture of any remarkable 

 marine animal. This arrangement has been productive of many inter- 

 esting aiid valuable results. The specimens received are often of great 

 scientitic importance, and it is hoped that the system may continue to 

 be as productive of good results in the future as it has been in the past. 



The Light-Honse Board has extended aid by instructing the keep- 

 ers of light-houses and light-ships to make observations in regard 

 to the tenqierature of the air and water, as well as to notice the 

 occurrence of phenomena in connection with the migrations of marine 

 aninuds. The data accuiinilated from this source have been of the 

 utmost importance in connection with the general problems of ocean 

 physics, and have been used to great advantage in solving many 

 questions concerning the movements of fishes in lelation to their 

 physical surroundings. The keepers were also instructed to note the 

 course of birds, especially as evidenced by their falling to the ground 

 after striking against the light-houses on dark nights. The Light- 

 House Board also kindly contributed to the Museum exhibit at the Cin- 

 cinnati Exposition an interesting collection of cyanotyi)e prints, show- 

 ing the lights and flames used in the light-houses on the American 

 coast. 



WAR DEPARTMENT. 



Through the courtesy of the Secretary of War and the Adjutant- 

 General of the Army, instructions were given to the commanders of 

 the military lujsts at Fort Keogh and Foit Maginnis, Mont., and Fort 



