774 The Smithsonian Institution 



resented by organizations under the general government. 

 The creation of these organizations, which was in large 

 part due to the Smithsonian Institution, constitutes one of 

 its greatest services to mankind. 



It was Professor Henry's idea that the Institution should 

 make original investigations in all branches of geographic 

 knowledge, institute explorations, and collect specimens of 

 minerals, animals, plants, and ethnological objects for its mu- 

 seum, where they could be studied by specialists, and diffuse 

 knowledge by publications based upon them. This plan con- 

 templates increasing our knowledge, (A) by means of explor- 

 ing expeditions sent out, either at its sole expense or jointly 

 with other organizations; (B) by the collection of specimens 

 for the museum illustrating the geography, geology, biology, 

 and ethnography of the countries explored. It should diffuse 

 the knowledge thus gained, (A) by the preparation of maps; 

 (B) by the publication of its annual reports; and (C) by the 

 publication of memoirs. 



Among the many expeditions which the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution has aided in a greater or less degree, a few only can 

 be specifically mentioned. 



NORTH AMERICA 



IF we look at the northern part of North America on a map 

 of 1846, we shall find the shore line of the Arctic Ocean ill- 

 defined and the outlines of the islands and the mainland fre- 

 quently confused. The river Yukon on that map enters the 

 Arctic Ocean near Point Beechey instead of flowing into Be- 

 ring Sea, several hundred miles to the southward, as is now 

 known to be the case. Although the general courses of the 

 rivers were then laid down with some approach to correct- 

 ness, this was more through theoretical than by actual know- 



