REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 31 
to continue collecting in the Middle Eocene Bridger beds of south- 
western Wyoming. These formations have been untouched by collect- 
ing parties during the war years and it is expected that weathering 
will have exposed many additional fossils. The expedition will con- 
tinue into the next fiscal year, when several fossil localities in the 
Wind River Basin reported by geological parties of the United States 
Geological Survey will be investigated. The cooperation of the Army 
in the loan of the truck is much appreciated since it proved to be a 
large factor in making the expedition possible. This expedition is 
another project under the Walcott fund of the Smithsonian Institution. 
Dr. W. F. Foshag, curator of mineralogy, spent the first quarter 
of the year in México concluding field work there, and returned to 
Washington on October 8. This work on the mineral resources of that 
country and on Paricutin Volcano was a joint project of the National 
Museum and the United States Geological Survey in collaboration 
with the Committee for the Study of Mineral Resources of Mexico. 
Field studies were completed on the fluorspar deposits of the Tasco 
District, State of Guerrero, the mercury-copper deposits of Las Fra- 
guas, and the copper deposits of Oropeo, State of Michoacan, with 
the assistance of Mexican geologists of the committee. Field work 
in geochemical studies at Paricutin Volcano was continued. 
On request from General MacArthur, Dr. Foshag and E. P. Hen- 
derson, associate curator in mineralogy, on May 25 went to Tokyo 
to undertake classification of gem stones under the Army’s jurisdiction. 
MISCELLANEOUS 
Visitors.—An increase of 384,877 visitors to the Museum buildings 
was recorded over the previous year, the totals being 2,115,593 for 
1946 and 1,730,716 for 1945. June 1946 was the month of largest 
attendance with 246,012 visitors; August 1945 the second largest with 
216,801. Records for the four buildings show the following number 
of visitors: Smithsonian Building, 430,760; Arts and Industries Build- 
ing, 852,080; Natural History Building, 606,310; Aircraft Building, 
226,443. 
Publications and printing—The sum of $48,000 was allotted the 
National Museum for its publication and printing requirements for 
the year 1945-46, the same amount as for the previous year. Of this, 
$34,000 was used for printing Bulletins, Proceedings, and Annual Re- 
ports; the rest for binding and for the salary of the Museum printer. 
Thirteen publications were issued—two Annual Reports, six Bulletins, 
and five Proceedings papers. <A list of these is given in the report on 
publications, appendix 10. 
